NewDelhi: S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, will represent India at the unprecedented swearing-in of Donald Trump as the 47th President of the United States. He will attend the ceremony to be held in Washington D.C. on 20 January. The ceremony will pave the way for Trump to return to the White House for a second term that is not consecutive.
Jaishankar’s presence was confirmed by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs in light of the invitation he received from the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee. During his trip, the minister plans to sit down with the important members of the new administration and other international leaders, who are also invited for the event.
The presidential inauguration, which represents the peaceful transfer of power from Joe Biden to Trump, will be held at the U.S. Capitol. The Vice President-elect, JD Vance, will be sworn in before Trump takes the oath of office, which will be given by Chief Justice John Roberts at noon Eastern Time.
After the official events, Trump is due to lead a traditional parade through the streets of Washington, where he will be meeting the public in a pageantry show and national unity celebration.
This visit continues from Jaishankar’s recent diplomatic activities in the U.S. In late December, he conducted a series of high-level meetings, discussing strategic, economic, and defence cooperation with American officials. Notably, these discussions included interactions with members of Trump’s transition team, including the incoming National Security Advisor.
As global attention is focused on Washington, Jaishankar’s act of being present in the capital city is a demonstration of the importance India gives to its relationship with the U.S., irrespective of which party is in power. The minister’s attendance at this great event and the planned discussions show India’s’ dedication to upholding the strong bilateral association in the context of the changing global scenario.