India will celebrate its Republic Day on January 26. Every year, the head of state of one country or the other has been attending the event as the chief guest. This time, it is being speculated that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto will be the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations in the national capital. It is believed that after New Delhi raised objections, Subianto is unlikely to visit Pakistan immediately after completing his India visit. However, according to reports in the Pakistani media, Jakarta has planned the visit of the Indonesian President to Pakistan after his visit to India.

Global leaders attend every year

Let us tell you that India has not yet formally announced the chief guest of this year's Republic Day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will have extensive talks with Subianto during his visit. India invites global leaders to attend the Republic Day celebrations every year. Last year, French President Emmanuel Macron attended India's Republic Day as the chief guest. Earlier, Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi was the chief guest at India's Republic Day celebrations in 2023. 

There was no chief guest during Covid

There was no chief guest on Republic Day in 2021 and 2022 in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, then Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was the chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations. Earlier in 2019, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was the chief guest at the Republic Day parade, while in 2018, leaders of all 10 ASEAN countries attended the event. In previous years, celebrities who attended the Republic Day parade included Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in 2017, French President Francois Hollande in 2016 and US President Barack Obama in 2015. Former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the chief guest in 2014.