In a perceived slight to India, US President Donald Trump has declined the invitation to be the chief guest at the country’s Republic Day celebrations, reports claimed. This was conveyed in the form of a letter from US authorities to NSA Ajit Doval, Times of India reported. This leaves Prime Minister Modi in a tough position, as he has to find a replacement, one who might be willing to risk public perception as the ‘second choice’ candidate.
Relations between India and the United States had deteriorated over the past few months, mainly due to India’s unwillingness to break off trade ties with Russia and Iran. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited President Trump for a bilateral visit to India during their talks in Washington in June 2017. A joint statement issued after the talks had said, “President Trump gladly accepted Prime Minister Modi’s invitation to visit India.” However, sources had later said a fresh invite to the US president was sent, to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in 2019.
If Trump accepted the invitation, it is expected to give a major boost to ties between the two strategic partners in key areas of defence, security and trade. The invitation to the American president to attend the Republic Day event came when the ties between the two countries are witnessing some strain. India had pressed the Trump administration for a waiver from US sanctions on New Delhi’s military procurement from Russia.
Earlier this year, the US had announced sanctions against Russia under the stringent law for its alleged meddling in the American presidential election in 2016. There has been mounting concerns in India over the US sanctions against Russian defence majors including Rosoboronexport as billions of dollars of military purchases may be impacted because of the punitive measure.
India had also sought a waiver from US sanctions on import of oil from Iran. The Trump administration has been pushing for deeper strategic cooperation with India, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region where China was expanding its influence. Ever year, India invites world leaders to attend its Republic Day celebrations. In 2015, the then president Barack Obama had attended it as the chief guest which was his second visit to India as American president. In 2018, Leaders from 10 ASEAN countries had attended the Republic Day celebrations.
In 2016, French President Francois Hollande was the chief guest of the parade while Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the chief guest at the celebrations in 2014. The heads of state and government who have attended the Republic Day celebrations include Nicolas Sarkozy, Vladimir Putin, Nelson Mandela, John Major, Mohammed Khatami and Jacques Chirac.
