New Delhi: In what is being seen as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s biggest diplomatic coup, US President Barack Obama will be the first-ever American head of state to be the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations on January 26.
After Prime Minister Modi’s invitation, the US President agreed to be the chief guest on January 26, 2015.
This masterstroke has sent diplomatic and political circles into a tizzy. The invitation was a closely guarded secret. Mr Modi had first called up President Obama and invited him to be chief guest, after which a formal letter was sent inviting him.
The invitation was then accepted. Mr Modi broke the news to the world Friday evening just after 7 pm
This Republic Day, we hope to have a friend over…invited President Obama to be the 1st US President to grace the occasion as Chief Guest.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 21, 2014Soon after that, the MEA said: “At the invitation of Mr Narendra Modi, His Excellency Barack Obama, President of the USA, will be the Chief Guest at Republic Day on 26th January 2015.”
