How India chooses chief guest for January 26 military parade

India will celebrate its 77th Republic Day on January 26, the day the country adopted its constitution and officially became a republic, shedding its colonial past.

The annual grand parade will be held along Delhi’s iconic Central Avenue, with military tanks rolling by and fighter jets roaring overhead as thousands of people watch.

The parade itself is a feast, but attention is also focused on who occupies the most prominent seat in the ceremony. This year, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa will attend.

India invited them to join the celebrations as chief guests, putting the EU at the center of one of the country’s most prestigious national events.

On this day, India turns the center of its capital into a stage. Thousands of soldiers march in front of cheering crowds, armored vehicles drive along Calle Kartavia (formerly King’s Avenue or King’s Avenue) and colorful scenes or floats pass by spectators in Delhi, while millions more watch on screens across the country.

The parade is presided over by the President of India, with the chief guest sitting closer to the President than even the highest-ranking government official.

Who sits next to the president of India has long been viewed as more than a matter of etiquette. Experts say the choice of chief guest has been closely watched over the decades as an indicator of India’s foreign policy priorities and the relationships that Delhi wants to emphasize at a given moment.

The practice began in 1950, when Indonesian President Sukarno participated in India’s first Republic Day military parade. India in its early days Prioritize connections with other newly independent countries Country – This focus was reflected in its early choice of principal guests.

Since then, the parade has hosted leaders from around the world and reflected India’s changing global relationships and strategic priorities. Chief guests included leaders of neighboring countries such as Bhutan and Sri Lanka, as well as heads of state and government from major powers such as the United States and the United Kingdom.

Britain has been the chief guest five times – including Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip – reflecting the long and complex history between the two countries. The leaders of France and Russia (the former Soviet Union) have also been invited nearly five times since 1950, reflecting India’s long-term strategic relations with both countries.

With such a wide range of past guests, the question is how India decides who receives an invitation in a given year.

The selection process is largely hidden from public view. former diplomat and media reports Says this usually starts within the Foreign Office, which prepares a shortlist of potential invitees. The final decision is made by the Prime Minister’s Office and then formally communicated to the selected countries, a process that can take several months.

“Strategic objectives, regional balance and whether a country has been invited will all be taken into consideration,” said a former foreign ministry official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Navtej Sarna, India’s former ambassador to the United States, said a lot of thought went into the decision-making process.

“It’s a balance between important partners, neighbors and great powers,” he said, adding that the availability of national leaders during this period also plays a crucial role.

Foreign policy analyst Harsh V. Pant said the changing list of chief guests reflected changes in the way India engaged with the world. “If you think about this year’s EU delegation, with its leadership coming in, it’s clear that we are doubling down on our engagement with the EU.”

He added that a trade deal is likely to be announced, which shows that India and the European bloc are on the same page regarding the current geopolitical situation.

This is as India continues to engage with US on trade deal. The relationship has been going on for nearly a year since the United States imposed 50% tariffs on Indian goods – the highest in Asia – which included penalties for India’s purchases of Russian oil.

“It (the selection of the parade’s chief guest) gives you an idea of ​​India’s priorities at a particular moment – which geographical area it wants to focus on, or whether it wants to mark a milestone,” Pant said, noting that India continues to maintain close engagement with countries in the southern hemisphere.

For example, in 2018, leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were invited as chief guests. Pant added that this was the first time a regional organization had been invited and marked the 25th anniversary of India’s engagement with the group.

At the same time, the absence of some guests also reflected the tension between the two sides.

Before war broke out between the neighbors in 1965, Pakistan’s leader attended the conference twice as the chief guest. Islamabad has since not been invited, a sign of continued tension between the two countries. The only time China attended was when Marshal Ye Jianying visited in 1958, four years after a war broke out between the two countries over their disputed border.

But Republic Day is about more than diplomacy and guest lists.

Analysts say India’s military parade differs from similar military displays elsewhere in the world for a number of reasons. Almost every year a guest in India is one of them.

Furthermore, for most countries, these military parades commemorate military victories. like russian victory day Marked Germany’s defeat in World War II, Bastille Day in France Celebrating the beginning of the French Revolution and the eventual fall of the monarchy, China’s military parade marked their victory over Japan in World War II.

In contrast, celebrations in India center on the Constitution, Pant said.

“For many other countries, these celebrations are associated with victory in war. We don’t celebrate that. We celebrate becoming a constitutional democracy – the entry into force of the Constitution.”

Unlike the military parades in many Western capitals, India’s Republic Day will also showcase its military capabilities mixed with cultural performances and regional scenes in a show of strength and diversity.

Beyond their strategic and symbolic significance, parades often leave a more personal impression on visiting leaders.

The former official, who spoke anonymously, recalled that the Obamas were particularly impressed by the camel-riding procession — a moment that stuck with them long after the formal ceremony.

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