U.S. President Attends India’s Republic Day Parade
Obama became the first serving U.S. President to attend India’s Republic Day parade, his presence at the grand event being due to a personal invitation from the country’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
An indicator of the strengthening bond between the two countries, Obama’s presence at the dazzling parade of India’s military might and cultural diversity marks the latest upturn in a tumultuous relationship.
The forging of a strong strategic partnership between India and America is further supported by the White House’s suggestion that the South-Asian country could play a role in tackling Islamic State, indicating Washington’s increasing confidence in India’s participation in global security issues.
Involvement of India in battling the terrorist group in Syria and Iraq will concern intelligence on the flow of militants and money as opposed to deploying troops on the ground, according to U.S. Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes.
He said: “When you look at our broader counter-terrorism cooperation and how we’re tracking the flow of fighters and terrorist financing, there I do think we want to find space for cooperation.”
