Donald Trump, Chief Guest at India’s Republic Day Parade

The government of India has invited the US President Donald Trump to be the Chief Guest during the Republic Day celebrations coming year. Though the President’s office is yet to respond to the invite, sent in the month of April. The response of the Government of the United States is important but the process of considering and before any kind of confirmation there would be several rounds of diplomatic talks between the two nations.

All eyes are now set on how Trump is reacting to the invite, as this invite is very crucial considering the present relationship between India and the United States.

It is important to note that the Donald Trump’s predecessor Barack Obama was also the Chief Guest of the Narendra Modi Government during the Republic Day Celebrations in the year 2015.

In 2016, former French President Francois Hollande was the Chief Guest during the Republic Day Parade and in the year 2017, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was the Chief Guest.

The leaders of ASEAN nations like Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and Brunei have also attended the Republic Day celebrations of India in the past.

From the international relations point of view too, the invite has come at a time when New Delhi and Washington are confronting each other and have differences over the issues such as trade tariffs, India’s relationship with Iran and the 400 defense missile system deal with Russia.

In June this year, the United States has put pressure on India to cut imports of oil from Iran. India took the necessary steps and also asked oil companies to explore alternative options. The pressure escalated after US ambassador to UN Nikki Haley during her visit to India, said that New Delhi must think about its ties with Iran. 

According to sources, US clearly told India and other countries must cut oil imports from Iran by the 4rth of November otherwise they have to face sanctions.

Also in the defense deal with Russia, the United States have already warned, if India goes ahead with its Rs 40,000 crore deal with Russia to buy sophisticated, long-range S-400 air defence system. This would complicate building interoperability between Indian and the United States Army.

Though India clearly conveyed it to the US that Indian and Russian cooperation in the defense sector is going to continue, which also includes the deal for S-400 Air defense missile systems for the Indian Air Force (IAF).

The relationship between India and the US also took an uncertain turn in June this year when US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo canceled a crucial meeting at the last moment. Sushma Swaraj, India’s External Affairs Minister and Nirmala Sitharaman, India’s Defence Minister are scheduled to meet Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense James Mattis at the beginning of this month. But on 27th June Pompeo called Swaraj and postponed the meeting.

It is therefore very much important to see, how the Trump administration is considering the invite from India for US President Donald Trump to be the Chief Guest at the annual national event of India.