Global leaders as Chief Guests on Republic Day represent India’s multi faceted diplomatic agenda. It is also a special way for India to thank a country for its diplomatic friendship.
These Chief Guests are decided keeping in view India’s diplomatic priorities.
In 2020, for the upcoming Republic Day Parade, the government has chosen to invite the Brazilian President, Jair Bolsonaro, as the chief guest.
The Brazilian delegation accompanying the President also hopes to sign agreements related to easier export of agricultural products and products related to animal husbandry to India. This will be a key talking point between the two sides. This invite also signifies the growing relationship between the two ‘distant’ partners.
In 2019, the President of another BRICS partner, South African President Cyril Ramphosa was the chief guest for the parade.
In 2018, in an unprecedented move, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited leaders of all ten Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) nations as guests of honour at the Republic Day parade.
Here’s a glimpse of the R-Day Chief Guests from the past:
2007: President Vladimir Putin of Russia
2008: President Nicolas Sarkozy of France
2009: President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan
2010: President Lee Myung Bak of South Korea
2011: President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia
2012: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra of Thailand
2013: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck of Bhutan
2014: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan
2015: President Barack Obama of USA
2016: President Francois Hollande of France
2017- UAE Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan
