French President Emmanuel Macron is all set to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations on January 26, according to people familiar with the development said on Friday.
The Elysee French presidential palace confirmed that Macron will visit New Delhi on January 26, adding that the French President would be welcomed as 'chief guest'. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was the guest of honour at the French Bastille day celebrations in July this year.
Earlier, India had invited US President Joe Biden for his presence at the event but he was unable to travel to New Delhi in January. US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti in September had said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Biden to be the Chief Guest for the Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2024.
Possible reasons for Biden's decision to not travel to India are believed to be his State of the Union address in late January or early February, his re-election campaign and the US focus on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Meanwhile, India has decided to host the Quad summit later this year instead of January as earlier planned.
"The Quad Summit in India is proposed to be held later in 2024. We are looking for revised dates as the dates currently under consideration do not work with all the Quad partners," said sources.
Yet earlier, media reports claimed that India might leaders of the Quad grouping as guests for the Republic Day celebrations next year.
(With inputs from PTI)
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