Officials said US President Obama had ‘in principle’ accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation to be the Chief Guest at the Republic Day celebrations next year the invitation during the latter’s visit to Washington in September. But the specific date of the visit had only been tied up when the two leaders met last week.
Significantly India and the US also announced the resolution of their difference over the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement at that time. Former diplomats said the decision to invite President Obama marked a decided change in Indian foreign policy,
“The invitation to President Obama reflects an honest acknowledgement of the reality of India-US relations and their partnership today,” said a diplomatic official. “The US is our biggest defence supplier, and one of our biggest trading partners. We are simply showcasing that.”
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In its statement about the visit, the US White House official website said “The President (Obama) will meet with the Prime Minister (Modi) and Indian officials to strengthen and expand the U.S.-India strategic partnership.”
In what is also seen as a first of sorts, the invitation from the Indian PM and acceptance by the US President were both first conveyed over the social messaging site twitter.