(Image source from: www.livemint.com)
The United States President Donald Trump has rejected India's invitation to be the chief guest during the Republic Day Parade.
The turn down by President Trump comes at a time when relations amid the countries are not in the best of health.
Recently, the U.S. had issued warning against India if it goes forward with signing the S-400 missile system deal with Russia. India signed the deal for five such systems when Russian President Vladimir Putin visited India last month.
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In addition, the Trump administration has been intimidating India with sanctions if it continues to procure oil from Iran. India continues to import oil from Iran.
According to India Today, the reason cited by the Trump administration to turn down the Republic Day invite is that President Trump has another pressing appointment on the same date. Trump supposedly has to deliver the State of The Union (SOTU) address and its timing clashes with the Republic Day celebrations.
However, in 2015, when the former U.S. President Barack Obama visited India for Republic Day, the date of the SOTU address was deferred. The date of the address is not fixed and but has to be made between January 22 and the initial week of February.
With Trump refusing India's invite, the Modi government will now have to look for some other head of state who can be invited as the chief guest for Republic Day. But after Trump's denial, it is improbable that any other key world leader will accept the invitation.
In 2016, French President Francois Hollande was the chief guest of the procession whereas Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the chief guest at the celebrations earlier in 2014.
The heads of state and government who have attended the Republic Day celebrations comprise Nelson Mandela, Vladimir Putin, Nicolas Sarkozy, Mohammed Khatami, John Major, and Jacques Chirac.
-Sowmya Sangam
