Eric Garcetti, the United States Ambassador to India, informed India Today that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had extended an invitation to US President Joe Biden to serve as the chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations, which are scheduled for January 26 next year.
This diplomatic gesture was made during a bilateral encounter in New Delhi just a day before the G20 summit.
In a discussion held by the Ananta Centre, Ambassador Garcetti told India Today that Prime Minister Modi's invitation demonstrates the two countries' growing partnership as they work to strengthen ties in the coming years.
This revelation came as Garcetti reacted to a request from India Today about the likely presence of Quad alliance leaders at the next Republic Day celebrations.
"Prime Minister Modi invited US President Biden to Republic Day during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit." "Despite the fact that the Prime Minister did not mention the Quad," Ambassador Garcetti revealed.
Earlier media reports suggested that India was considering inviting all Quad leaders to the Republic Day celebrations, a strategic move that would coincide with India's increased engagement within the Quad framework.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida are among these leaders. The final decision was thought to be dependent on the availability of these world leaders.
Being invited as the top guest to the Republic Day celebrations holds enormous symbolic weight, representing India's vital diplomatic relationships and collaborations.
Formal invites are typically given once informal confirmation of the dignitaries' availability has been received, ensuring the participation of a significant ally as the primary guest on this landmark day in Indian history.
Furthermore, India is set to host the forthcoming Quad Summit in 2024, a critical event against the backdrop of the region's developing geopolitical dynamics. This improves India's involvement in global strategic developments and its ties with other Quad members.
If President Biden accepts the invitation to be the keynote speaker, the Quad Summit could be held on January 25, the day before Republic Day, because Australia celebrates its National Day on January 26, making it impossible for Prime Minister Albanese to attend a Quad Leaders' meeting on the same day.
The next Republic Day event and Quad Summit could be watershed moments in India's diplomatic outreach and foreign partnerships, especially in light of tense relations with China and, more lately, Canada.
These initiatives strengthen India's global diplomacy and its commitment to forging strong relationships.
