Why Modi picked Abu Dhabi prince as R-Day chief guest

January 24, 2017 20:03

Rajeev Sharma tells us: Diplomatic symbolism reveals how Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan is head and shoulders above most foreign dignitaries, except perhaps the United States president.

One, Prime Minister Narendra Modi breached protocol for the second successive year and received the crown prince at the airport in New Delhi on Tuesday afternoon.

Two, Sheikh Mohammed was chosen over two important leaders as the chief guest for this year's Republic Day parade -- Justin Trudeau, Canada's prime minister, and Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh's prime minister.

Indian prime ministers have rarely received foreign dignitaries at the airport, with a few exceptions like the US president and the king of Saudi Arabia.

Modi personally chose Sheikh Mohammed as the chief guest for the Republic Day parade. His prime reason is economic as the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority has over $750 billion sovereign funds to invest.

Abu Dhabi's August 2015 pledge of investing $75 billion in Indian infrastructure will top Modi's agenda when he holds delegation-level talks with the crown prince on Wednesday afternoon.

Sheikh Mohammed returns home on January 26 evening.

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