by Elton Gomes
India has invited US President Donald Trump to be the chief guest at the 2019 Republic Day ceremony, the Times of India reported. India is awaiting response from the US, but seems highly optimistic about Trumps presence at the ceremony. The US hinted that the Trump administration is favourably considering the invite offered in April 2018. If Trump decides to accept the invite, his presence is sure to create more drama than the time when former US president Barack Obama joined Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the Republic Day parade in 2015.
What this means for Indo-US ties?
The invitation has been extended against the backdrop of tensions over tariffs, with the Trump administration pressurizing India to reduce oil imports from Iran. In addition, the abrupt postponement of the heavily anticipated 2+2 dialogue dealt a significant blow to the Indian government. The US however claimed that the delay would not affect ties, and the summit has been scheduled to take place in September. Another topic of disagreement for the US could be New Delhis decision to purchase S-400 missile defence system from Russia the move reportedly did not augur well with the Trump administration. If India goes through with the deal, it could face sanctions from the US under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act.
Which leaders have been invited in the past?
The Republic Day ceremony in 2018 saw heads of states from 10 members of the Association of South East Asian Nations as chief guests. This was the first time where 10 heads of states were chief guests at the Republic Day parade. India has hosted several chief guests among the years, including Vladimir Putin, Barack Obama, Nelson Mandela, to name a few.
In 2017, the crown prince of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, was the chief guest at the parade. Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke protocol and received him at the Indira Gandhi International airport in New Delhi. Former France president François Hollande was chief guest in 2016. For the first time, a foreign military contingent marched along with their Indian counterparts at Rajpath. In 2015, former US president Barack Obama became the first US president to attend the Republic Day ceremony. Former First Lady Michelle Obama accompanied her husband to the parade.
Russian President Vladimir Putin was made chief guest in 2007. The Russian president was on a two-day visit wherein he held talks with former president A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, then prime minister Manmohan Singh, and other leaders.
Indias neighbours Pakistan and China have been part of the parade once each. In 1955, Pakistans governor general Malik Ghulam Muhammad was present, while Chinese marshal Ye Jianying was chief guest at the ceremony in 1958.
Shaping Indias relations with the world
Choosing the chief guest for the Republic Day parade is no easy task. India generally selects a chief guest from a nation that it wants to develop ties with, or reaffirm its friendship with.
Starting in the 1950s and continuing into the present day, numerous leaders have been invited as India sought to better its global relations. After India identified Iran as its key strategic partner in energy security and connectivity plans in central Asia, Iranian president Mohammed Khatami was invited as chief guest in 2003. India witnessed a turnaround in its bilateral ties with Saudi Arabia after its ruler, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, was invited as chief guest in 2006.
South Korean president Lee Myung-bak was invited to become chief guest in 2010. In that year, bilateral trade stood at $12.2 billion, and rose to $16.2 billion in 2015-16.
Elton Gomes is a staff writer at Qrius