New Delhi, 21 November 2014

In a major step ahead in the diplomatic ties between India and the United States of America, US President Barack Obama has accepted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s invite to be the chief guest at next year’s Republic Day celebrations in Delhi.

Obama will be the first US President to grace the Republic Day celebrations.

Modi had tweeted about the invite sent out to Obama. Minutes later, a statement issued by the Press Secretary of American President confirmed that Obama would attend the grand celebration at Rajpath.

Statement by the Press Secretary on the President’s Travel to India

At the invitation of Prime Minister Modi, the President will travel to India in January 2015 to participate in the Indian Republic Day celebration in New Delhi as the Chief Guest. This visit will mark the first time a U.S. president will have the honor of attending Republic Day, which commemorates the adoption of India’s constitution. The President will meet with the Prime Minister and Indian officials to strengthen and expand the U.S.-India strategic partnership.

This Republic Day, we hope to have a friend over…invited President Obama to be the 1st US President to grace the occasion as Chief Guest.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 21, 2014