India’s 77th Republic Day Parade Graced by Top EU Leaders

NEW DELHI, Jan 26: European Council President Antonio Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen attended India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations at Kartavya Path on Monday, marking the first time two top EU leaders have been present together as chief guests. Their presence highlighted India’s growing diplomatic engagement with the European Union.

Costa and von der Leyen, accompanied by a high-level EU delegation, witnessed the grand parade featuring India’s elite marching contingents, missiles, and indigenous weapon systems. They joined President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers, foreign diplomats, and other dignitaries for the historic event. A small EU military contingent also participated in the parade, further strengthening bilateral military ties.

Following the celebrations, the EU leaders are scheduled to hold summit talks with Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday.

India has a long tradition of inviting world leaders to its Republic Day events. In recent years, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was chief guest in 2025, French President Emmanuel Macron in 2024, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in 2023. Other notable attendees over the decades include former US President Barack Obama (2015), Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (2014), South African President Nelson Mandela (1995), and French Presidents Nicolas Sarkozy (2008) and Jacques Chirac (1998).

The Republic Day parade serves as a global showcase of India’s military capabilities, cultural diversity, and international partnerships, underscoring the country’s stature on the world stage.