President Biden will not be attending India’s Republic Day celebration next month, according to national security adviser Jake Sullivan, who cited “scheduling demands” for the decision. This comes after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended the invitation during their talks at the Group of 20 summit in September, reflecting efforts to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two nations.
Despite ongoing investigations into an alleged murder plot involving an Indian government employee targeting a Sikh separatist in the United States, the white House asserts that Biden’s absence is unrelated to these concerns. The foiled plot became public last month, prompting the Biden administration to press India for an inquiry and accountability.
The Justice Department unveiled an indictment in November, alleging that the Indian government employee orchestrated the murder of a U.S. citizen, along with plans to target multiple individuals, including a Sikh leader fatally shot in Canada.
Biden, Sullivan, and other officials engaged in multiple encounters with Indian counterparts to address the thwarted plot. Despite these concerns, the administration aims to reassure India of the continued strength of the bilateral relationship. Deputy national security adviser Jon Finer led a U.S. delegation to New Delhi earlier this month to advance a technology partnership, acknowledging India’s creation of a committee to investigate the assassination plot.
While the Republic Day invitation is a diplomatic gesture highlighting the significant relationship, Biden’s scheduling conflicts have led to the decision to skip the event. Sullivan emphasized the enduring partnership between the U.S. and India in emerging technologies, space, and defense.
The quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) summit, originally planned around Biden’s visit, faces scheduling challenges with other Quad leaders. New Delhi hopes to reschedule the summit later in 2024. Observers, including Walter Ladwig, associate professor of international relations at Kings College London, do not interpret Biden’s absence as a signal of displeasure related to the assassination plot allegations. Ladwig notes Biden’s previous efforts at the G-20 summit and considers it unlikely for him to purposefully snub the Republic Day honor.
Despite the scheduling conflicts, the U.S. and India affirm their commitment to a close and consequential partnership, extending beyond the Republic Day celebration.