India is eyeing a diplomatic coup by sending US President Donald Trump an invite to be the chief guest for next year’s Republic Day parade, according to a report.
News reports said on Friday that an invite has been sent to Trump and that he is expected to reply in the affirmative. The reports said the invite was sent to Trump in April and that it was followed by several rounds of diplomatic engagement.
The report claimed that the Trump administration was “favourably considering” the invite, though there has been no official response from Washington on the communication yet. The invite is also a test for India’s relation with Trump. Almost every major country has struggled to cope with the mercurial and irascible leader and India has learnt the hard way that it is hardly an exception. Tussle over trade tariffs, America’s reluctance to acknowledge India’s ties with Iran and it’s adverse reaction to the deal for purchase of S-400 missile defence system from Russia have left many wondering if Delhi even figures in Trump’s priority list like it certainly did in Obama’s.
The postponement of the much anticipated 2+2 talks also dealt a blow to the Indian government. The US, however, dismissed claims that the delay would affect ties and said that it would have no bearing on US-India relations.
Should he come, the Modi government will think of it as a major coup.
The Modi government has gone all out in its invitations to dignitaries for the Republic Day parade. Before the invitation to ASEAN leaders last year, United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was the chief guest in 2017. The 2016 parade meanwhile witnessed the presence of French President François Hollande as the chief guest.
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