- Ursula von der Leyen called a successful India key to global stability and prosperity
- EU leaders von der Leyen and Costa were chief guests at India's 77th Republic Day parade
- The visit highlights growing India-EU ties and includes a Security and Defence Partnership
A successful India makes the world more stable, prosperous and secure, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday after witnessing the 77th Republic Day celebrations at the majestic Kartavya Path, a day ahead of the India-EU summit.
Von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa attended the Republic Day parade as chief guests, joining a select group of global leaders who have graced the nation's biggest ceremonial event in the last seven decades.
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, several other Union ministers, the country's top military brass, foreign diplomats and senior officials were among the spectators.
"It is the honor of a lifetime to be Chief Guests at the Republic Day celebrations. A successful India makes the world more stable, prosperous and secure. And we all benefit," Von der Leyen said on social media after the ceremony.
PM Modi said India was privileged to host Costa and von der Leyen at the Republic Day celebrations.
"Their presence underscores the growing strength of the India-European Union partnership and our commitment to shared values," he said.
"The visit will add momentum to the deepening engagement and cooperation between India and Europe across diverse sectors," he said on social media.
It was the first time that two top leaders of the European Union (EU) attended India's Republic Day celebrations as chief guests.
Costa and von der Leyen, accompanied by a high-powered delegation, will hold summit talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday.
A small EU military contingent carrying the military staff flag and flags of Operations Atalanta and Aspides, the naval operations of the grouping, also participated at the Republic Day parade.
"The display of the flags of the EU, the EU Military Staff, and our maritime missions Atalanta and Aspides at India's Republic Day is a powerful symbol of our deepening security cooperation," von der Leyen said.
"It will culminate tomorrow in the signature of our Security and Defence Partnership," she said.
After attending the 'At Home' programme at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, von der Leyen said, "Europe and India are the world's largest democracies, committed to working together to shape a new global order."
"This is why we are here to take our partnership to new heights," she said.
At the parade, India displayed its military might that included elite marching contingents, missiles and indigenous weapon systems.
Every year, India invites world leaders to attend its Republic Day celebrations.
Last year, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was the Republic Day chief guest, while French President Emmanuel Macron graced the occasion in 2024.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was the Republic Day chief guest in 2023.
There was no Republic Day chief guest 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.
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 celebrations.
In 2017, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan was the chief guest at celebrations, while then French President Francois Hollande graced the occasion in 2016.
In 2015, then US President Barack Obama watched the parade as the chief guest. The previous year, then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was the chief guest at the celebrations, while Bhutan king Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck attended the parade in 2013.
The heads of state and government who have attended the Republic Day celebrations also include Nicolas Sarkozy, Vladimir Putin, Nelson Mandela, John Major, Mohammed Khatami and Jacques Chirac.
The then British Prime Minister John Major had attended the celebrations in 1993, Nelson Mandela participated as the then South African President in 1995, while South Korean President Lee Myung Bak witnessed the parade in 2010.
In 2008, Sarkozy participated in the celebrations as French President, while another French President, Jacques Chirac, graced the occasion in 1998.
Other world leaders who have attended the celebrations include Nepal's King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev in 1999, Iran's then President Mohammed Khatami in 2003, Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2011 and the President of the Maldives, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom in 1991.
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(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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