Trump’s R-Day snub: How ignoring the role of Chief of Protocol backfired for the govt

The Narendra Modi government has been left red-faced, as the US on Monday officially declined India’s invite to have President Donald Trump as the chief guest at the Republic Day parade next year.

"President Trump was honoured by Prime Minister Modi's invitation for him to be Chief Guest of India's Republic Day on January 26, 2019, but is unable to participate due to scheduling constraints," said a White House spokesperson, after a weekend of speculation on if the US had rejected New Delhi’s request. A report in a leading English daily on Trump administration’s refusal was pulled down hours after being published, prompting concerns of censorship from the government.

What hasn’t been lost on former diplomats and officials, with experience in dealing with incoming and outgoing visits, is how the role of the Chief of Protocol of the Government of India, situated in the Ministry of External Affairs, was overlooked by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

“While the PM has the prerogative in these matters, it is the Chief of Protocol located in the Ministry of External Affairs that is the points person for taking these decisions and for all inbound and outbound communication,” a former Protocol Officer with the government told National Herald.

The position of Chief Protocol Officer has always been held by a Joint Secretary-level bureaucrat.

The ex-bureaucrat lamented that the fiasco over US President’s refusal to be part of Republic Day celebrations could have been avoided, only if the Modi government had followed “proper protocol.”

“Not everything is personal. We have set protocols that have to be followed in cases involving heads of states visiting India. Protocol is meant to show respect to other countries and their leaders,” the ex-protocol officer told NH.

“These things are common sense. It is basically to avoid embarrassment,” added the former Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer.

Spelling out the protocol that has to be followed, the retired bureaucrat said a “general OK” from the invited leader before an official invitation is extended. “An announcement, maybe before or after the letter has been shot, is only made once one is sure that the foreign leader has accepted the invitation,” said the former joint secretary with the MEA.

“From a protocol point of view, we even work out in advance what has to be said during these visits.

The former diplomat cautioned that at times, there are last minute changes that may throw the original itinerary off track. “What happens sometimes is that the invited party indicated acceptance and then a last-minute thing comes up. But that is rare,” they said.

The ex-official, however, added that an official invitation is not sent straightaway and “we had never faced such a public snub from any dignitary ever before.”

Another veteran diplomat recalled to NH that India had faced such a situation during the time of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, when he had been invited by Malaysian President Mahathir Mohamad for the Commonwealth Summit.

“President Mahathir had invited Rajiv Gandhi for a Commonwealth Summit and at the same time, by coincidence, elections were announced. So, Rajiv Gandhi indicated this to then External Affairs Minister PV Narasimha Rao, who then conveyed it to the concerned official,” said the official.

The sitting Protocol Officer at the MEA couldn’t be reached for a comment, since he is believed to be overseas, as per an MEA official.