Firstpost
  • Home
  • Video Shows
    Vantage Firstpost America Firstpost Africa First Sports
  • World
    US News
  • Explainers
  • News
    India Opinion Cricket Tech Entertainment Sports Health Photostories
  • Asia Cup 2025
Apple Incorporated Modi ji Justin Trudeau Trending

Sections

  • Home
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Shows
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Health
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • Web Stories
  • Business
  • Impact Shorts

Shows

  • Vantage
  • Firstpost America
  • Firstpost Africa
  • First Sports
  • Fast and Factual
  • Between The Lines
  • Flashback
  • Live TV

Events

  • Raisina Dialogue
  • Independence Day
  • Champions Trophy
  • Delhi Elections 2025
  • Budget 2025
  • US Elections 2024
  • Firstpost Defence Summit
Trending:
  • Nepal protests
  • Nepal Protests Live
  • Vice-presidential elections
  • iPhone 17
  • IND vs PAK cricket
  • Israel-Hamas war
fp-logo
ASEAN leaders to attend Republic Day parade: Modi has made major policy statement by extending invitation
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter
Apple Incorporated Modi ji Justin Trudeau Trending

Sections

  • Home
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Shows
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Health
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • Web Stories
  • Business
  • Impact Shorts

Shows

  • Vantage
  • Firstpost America
  • Firstpost Africa
  • First Sports
  • Fast and Factual
  • Between The Lines
  • Flashback
  • Live TV

Events

  • Raisina Dialogue
  • Independence Day
  • Champions Trophy
  • Delhi Elections 2025
  • Budget 2025
  • US Elections 2024
  • Firstpost Defence Summit
  • Home
  • World
  • ASEAN leaders to attend Republic Day parade: Modi has made major policy statement by extending invitation

ASEAN leaders to attend Republic Day parade: Modi has made major policy statement by extending invitation

Bikram Vohra • January 14, 2018, 15:32:07 IST
Whatsapp Facebook Twitter

The Modi government has invited ten heads of state from ASEAN for the Republic Day parade and all ten have agreed to come. This underscores a major policy statement.

Advertisement
Subscribe Join Us
Add as a preferred source on Google
Prefer
Firstpost
On
Google
ASEAN leaders to attend Republic Day parade: Modi has made major policy statement by extending invitation

The Indian Republic Day parade every 26 January is still a spectacle, even though there has been little change in the format. For some, perhaps, it is this very similarity that makes it such a comfortable annual optic. One of the intriguing aspects of the event, besides it being a salute to the military, civil and cultural might of India, is the selection of the chief guest. It is the best step forward  for us. In recent years we have had US president Barack Obama, UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and President François Hollande of France. In a subtle fashion, the invitation echoes the current foreign policy priorities and last year, the Crown Prince’s presence was seen as an indicator of India’s major initiatives in the Gulf and Mid-East. In the light of these past decisions, the invitation to the chief guests for 2018 has far reaching consequences. [caption id=“attachment_4302247” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] ![File image of a Republic Day function in New Delhi. PTI](https://images.firstpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/india-republic-day-2017_380_PTI.jpg) File image of a Republic Day function in New Delhi. PTI[/caption] The Modi government has invited ten heads of state from ASEAN and all ten have agreed to come. It is a logistical and protocol nightmare for sure, and there is a need to up security to an unprecedented level. However, this also underscores a major policy statement. India’s ‘Act East’ policy certainly has an energy about, it and it is indicative of India’s strategic move to position itself as a major power in the region. The ten are: Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, the Sultan Of Brunei, Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte Of Philippines, Joko Widodo, the President Of Indonesia Najib Razak, Prime Minister Of Malaysia, Nguyen Xuân Phúc, Prime Minister Of Vietnam, President Halima Yacob of Singapore, President Htin Kyaw of Myanmar, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha of Thailand and Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith of Laos. It is unprecedented to have so many VIPs at a celebration and not an international summit meet or conference. Besides flexing India’s military muscle, what Modi has in mind is to impress upon these ten entities the need to appreciate India as the bulwark against Chinese adventurism and to make the Indo-ASEAN entity more viable in commercial terms. At the same time, these ten nations could be a strong support for India’s ongoing bid to sit on the UN Security Council. Modi is canny enough to have conjured up this opportunity to bring the flock together in convivial surroundings. The morning parade is a visual treat and presents the nation in a good light. We are also pretty decent at making the arrangements and organising the details with split second military precision. All in all, the prime minister of India playing host to these ten countries can only signal a better relationship with the East, something that has been hovering in the background since the 1980s. The fact that all ten have agreed to be present is indicative of the seriousness with which they acknowledge India as a major player. If there is a downside, it is that parts of Delhi will be in a lockdown. Though the leaders will probably bring with them their own security contingents, India will have to ensure the safety of not just the VIPs but the capital itself. Due to this, the public will be put to a certain amount of inconvenience. However, it will probably be worth it in the long run.

Tags
China Narendra Modi Delhi ConnectTheDots Myanmar UN Security Council Asean Republic Day Najib Razak East Asia
End of Article
Latest News
Find us on YouTube
Subscribe
End of Article

Impact Shorts

Nepal: Oli to continue until new PM is sworn in, nation on edge as all branches of govt torched

Nepal: Oli to continue until new PM is sworn in, nation on edge as all branches of govt torched

Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli remains caretaker PM amid chaos in Nepal. Protesters torched parliament, executive seat, Supreme Court, and presidential residence. President Paudel calls for dialogue as violence continues across the country.

More Impact Shorts

Top Stories

Israel targets top Hamas leaders in Doha; Qatar, Iran condemn strike as violation of sovereignty

Israel targets top Hamas leaders in Doha; Qatar, Iran condemn strike as violation of sovereignty

Nepal: Oli to continue until new PM is sworn in, nation on edge as all branches of govt torched

Nepal: Oli to continue until new PM is sworn in, nation on edge as all branches of govt torched

Who is CP Radhakrishnan, India's next vice-president?

Who is CP Radhakrishnan, India's next vice-president?

Israel informed US ahead of strikes on Hamas leaders in Doha, says White House

Israel informed US ahead of strikes on Hamas leaders in Doha, says White House

Israel targets top Hamas leaders in Doha; Qatar, Iran condemn strike as violation of sovereignty

Israel targets top Hamas leaders in Doha; Qatar, Iran condemn strike as violation of sovereignty

Nepal: Oli to continue until new PM is sworn in, nation on edge as all branches of govt torched

Nepal: Oli to continue until new PM is sworn in, nation on edge as all branches of govt torched

Who is CP Radhakrishnan, India's next vice-president?

Who is CP Radhakrishnan, India's next vice-president?

Israel informed US ahead of strikes on Hamas leaders in Doha, says White House

Israel informed US ahead of strikes on Hamas leaders in Doha, says White House

Top Shows

Vantage Firstpost America Firstpost Africa First Sports

QUICK LINKS

  • Trump-Zelenskyy meeting
Latest News About Firstpost
Most Searched Categories
  • Web Stories
  • World
  • India
  • Explainers
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Cricket
  • Tech/Auto
  • Entertainment
  • IPL 2025
NETWORK18 SITES
  • News18
  • Money Control
  • CNBC TV18
  • Forbes India
  • Advertise with us
  • Sitemap
Firstpost Logo

is on YouTube

Subscribe Now

Copyright @ 2024. Firstpost - All Rights Reserved

About Us Contact Us Privacy Policy Cookie Policy Terms Of Use
Home Video Shorts Live TV