Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who failed to get an invitation for the coronation function of US President Donald Trump, though he described him as his `friend’, took pains to visit the US within three weeks of his regime to discuss bilateral issues.
Apart from controversy over Trump’s imposing discredited F-35 jet flights to India, the absence of a senior US government official to receive Modi upon his arrival at Joint Base Andrews has sparked debates about diplomatic protocol, India’s standing in US foreign policy, and the evolving course of bilateral ties.
While some perceive this as a diplomatic slight, a closer analysis suggests that the visit’s strategic significance far outweighs the optics of protocol. Upon his arrival, Prime Minister Modi was welcomed by India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, alongside other officials and a dedicated gathering of the Indian Diaspora.
However, the absence of a senior representative from the US
administration, a gesture traditionally associated with high-profile diplomatic receptions prompted speculation. Did this indicate a deliberate snub, a shift in US foreign policy priorities, or simply adherence to standard protocol for a working visit?
From a procedural standpoint, Modi’s visit was classified as an “official working visit” rather than a state visit, which is accorded the highest level of diplomatic protocol, including ceremonial welcomes such as a 21-gun salute and a state dinner.
Instead, Modi received a formal reception at the White House on February 13, where President Trump extended a warm welcome, complete with a characteristic bear hug, before their bilateral discussions. The absence of high-level reception at the airport, therefore, appears to reflect the nature of the visit rather than an intentional diplomatic snub.
Dr. Subramanian Swamy, a former union minister, was among
the most vocal critics of PM Modi, highlighting what he viewed as a breach of protocol. In posts on social media platform X, Swamy remarked, “Modi received no official welcome upon his arrival in the US as per protocol !!”
He further outlined his concerns, including: No Modi’s equivalent official came to receive him and Modi was made to stay in a building outside the White House, which doesn’t reflect a close Modi- Trump friendship.