Amidst speculations, it’s reported that US President Joe Biden is unlikely to attend India’s Republic Day celebrations as the Chief Guest, with sources familiar with the matter indicating a postponement of the anticipated Quad summit involving India, the US, Japan, and Australia.
In September, US Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti had mentioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invitation to President Biden for the Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2024. However, India hadn’t officially commented on the invitation at that time.
Recent indications suggest that Biden isn’t scheduled for a visit to India in January, leading to the postponement of the Quad summit, initially anticipated around January 27 had the US President accepted the invite.
Sources highlighted that the Quad summit, a significant diplomatic forum comprising the four nations, was proposed to be deferred to later in 2024 due to the inability to align on suitable dates for all partners involved.
“We are looking for revised dates as the dates currently under consideration do not work with all the Quad partners,” a source informed Press Trust of India.
Additionally, Washington communicated to New Delhi that President Biden wouldn’t be able to attend the Republic Day celebrations, marking a shift from earlier expectations.
Amidst these developments, there has been an influx of visits by high-ranking US officials to India recently. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin held discussions in India last month as part of the ‘2+2’ ministerial dialogue. This was followed by visits from US Principal Deputy NSA Jonathan Finer and FBI Director Christopher Wray.
The postponement of the Quad summit and Biden’s anticipated absence from the Republic Day celebrations indicates a recalibration of diplomatic engagements between the nations. This shift in plans comes against the backdrop of ongoing geopolitical concerns in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly amidst heightened Chinese military assertiveness.
The last Quad summit, held in Hiroshima on May 20, emphasized the coalition’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific’s security and unveiled collaborative initiatives aimed at strategic cooperation and regional stability.
As India reassesses and seeks new dates for the Quad summit, the rescheduling signals a renewed focus on bolstering cooperation within the Indo-Pacific, responding to evolving regional dynamics and the imperative to address shared challenges for regional progress and stability.
Sources By Agencies