Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has been announced as the chief guest for India's 76th Republic Day celebrations on January 26, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). This will mark Subianto's first official visit to India as president, scheduled for January 25-26.
The MEA highlighted the significance of Indonesia as a key strategic partner for India, especially within the framework of India's Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision. "By the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, will undertake a state visit to India from January 25 - 26. He will also grace the occasion as the Chief Guest for India's 76th Republic Day celebrations," the MEA stated.
India and Indonesia share a rich history of warm and friendly relations that have evolved over thousands of years, the ministry added. The upcoming visit is expected to provide a platform for the two nations' leaders to review their bilateral ties comprehensively and discuss key regional and global issues of mutual interest.
Lookback: Republic Day Celebration- World Leaders' Participation
Each year, India extends invitations to world leaders to participate in its Republic Day celebrations. In recent years, several prominent figures have attended the grand occasion:
2024: French President Emmanuel Macron graced the celebrations.
2023: Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi attended as the chief guest.
2021 and 2022: No chief guest was invited due to COVID-19 restrictions.
2020: Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro participated.
2019: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was the honored guest.
The tradition of inviting global leaders dates back decades and has included many prominent names, such as former US President Barack Obama in 2015, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in 2014, and Nelson Mandela, who attended as South Africa's president in 1995.
This longstanding custom has seen heads of state from various countries, including France, Russia, Iran, Bhutan, Nepal, and the Maldives, joining India's Republic Day parade over the years.
Prabowo Subianto's upcoming visit will not only reinforce the deep ties between India and Indonesia but also underscore the shared commitment of both nations to fostering regional and global cooperation.