President Biden will not visit India for Republic Day Parade

US President Joe Biden is unlikely to travel to India for the Republic Day celebrations on January 26, leading Indian officials to explore alternative dates for the Quad Summit.

Sources familiar with the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity, revealed that Biden's non-participation in the January events prompted the search for revised dates that align with the schedules of all Quad partners. The possibility of holding the summit on January 27 was considered until last month.

The Indian side now aims to convene the Quad Summit later in 2024, with officials actively seeking dates that accommodate all participating nations. This development puts India in the challenging position of finding a leader to be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations, just over six weeks before the event.

Several factors contribute to the US administration's decision not to accept the Republic Day invitation, including Biden's focus on his re-election bid, the State of the Union address expected in late January or early February, and ongoing geopolitical challenges such as the Israel-Hamas conflict.

While the Indian government has not officially confirmed Biden's invitation as the chief guest at Republic Day celebrations, US Ambassador Eric Garcetti previously mentioned the invitation extended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a bilateral meeting at the G20 Summit in September.

Inviting a foreign leader as the chief guest on Republic Day is a significant honor reserved for India's closest allies and partners. The absence of chief guests in 2021 and 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic contrasts with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's role as chief guest this year.

Australia and Japan, considering their leaders' domestic commitments in late January, had agreed to join the proposed Quad Summit on January 27, contingent on Biden's visit to New Delhi. The Quad Summit's potential scheduling during the weekend following Republic Day was explored to accommodate Australia Day on January 26 and a session of Japan's Parliament starting in mid-January.

Officials from all Quad states were actively collaborating on a list of deliverables spanning critical and emerging technologies, climate change, maritime security, health security, and critical minerals. The Quad Summit remains a focal point for addressing key global challenges and fostering collaboration among the participating nations.

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