Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to be the Chief Guest at India's 76th Republic Day
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has been invited as the chief guest for India's 76th Republic Day on January 26, 2025. His visit states that the ties are now substantially strengthened under India's Act East Policy, which focuses upon defense and strategic cooperation. An Indonesian contingent of 350 people will be part of the parade.
Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto will be the chief guest at India's 76th Republic Day celebrations on January 26, 2025, in New Delhi. This visit marks the intensity of diplomatic and strategic ties between India and Indonesia as two friends celebrate 75 years of their diplomatic relations.
Breaking: India formally announces that Indonesia's President Prabowo Subianto will be chief guest at Republic Day 2025 pic.twitter.com/eUgqn9GvZm
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) January 16, 2025
President Subianto's visit is in line with India's Act East Policy, which is an effort to strengthen relations with Southeast Asian countries. Defense and strategic cooperation will be a special focus area of the visit, with an focus on connectivity and trade links. A 350-member military contingent from Indonesia will also be participating in the Republic Day parade on Kartavya Path, reflecting the strong ties between the two nations.
The initial concerns arise with Subianto's travel journey at a time of a possible stopover in Pakistan upon returning from India. Indian diplomats handled the concerned situation, with further confirmation revealing that Subianto would avoid direct travel to Pakistan after participating in the country's Republic Day celebrations, in light of those delicate relations.
India's Republic Day Tradition
This is a tradition of inviting foreign dignitaries to India's Republic Day. In recent years, French President Emmanuel Macron was the guest in 2024 and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in 2023. Subianto's invitation is also a reflection of India's increasing interest in building closer relations with Southeast Asia, especially in defense cooperation and its growing engagement with ASEAN member states.
The visit is expected to further strengthen India-Indonesia relations, building on their shared history and mutual interests in regional stability, defense exports, and strategic growth. As the two nations celebrate this milestone in their partnership, Subianto's participation in the Republic Day celebrations is seen as a significant step forward in enhancing bilateral ties.
