US President would not be able to participate in India's Republic Day event next year due to scheduling constraints, White House has confirmed
The White House clarified on Monday that US President Donald Trump had to decline India’s invitation to participate as the Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi next year due to “scheduling constraints.” During their talks in Washington last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited President Trump for a bilateral visit to India.
In July, White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders had stated that President Trump had received an invitation to India but that no decision had been taken then. When asked about Trump’s decision on the pending invitation by Modi, a White House spokesperson told news agency PTI over phone, “President Trump was honoured by Prime Minister Modi’s invitation for him to be Chief Guest of India’s Republic Day on January 26, 2019 but is unable to participate due to
Reportedly, the annual State of the Union (SOTU) address to both Houses of the US Congress by President Trump is expected to take place at around the same time when India celebrates its Republic Day. In the past, the SOTU address has usually taken place in the last week of January or first week of February. US President Donald Trump snubs India: Won't attend 70th Republic Day celebrations
Meanwhile, the WH spokesperson told PTI that President Trump was committed to deepening the India-US relationship and noted that both Trump and PM Modi shared a “strong personal rapport.” The spokesperson said, “The President enjoys a strong personal rapport with Prime Minister Modi developed through two meetings and several phone calls and remains committed to deepening the US-India strategic partnership. The President very much looks forward to meeting Prime Minister Modi again at the earliest opportunity.”
The two world leaders are scheduled to attend the G-20 Summit in Argentina on November 30 and December 1, where it is expected that the two would meet and discuss bilateral relationship.
Every year, on the occasion of India’s Republic Day on January 26, the government invites a Head of State to attend the celebrations as a chief guest. This year, leaders of 10 ASEAN countries had attended the R-Day event while in 2016, the then French president Francois Hollande had been the chief guest at the event. Former US President Barack Obama, who was then in power, had attended the event in 2015.
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