It was, after all, the full package that the Prime Minister of India had put up with when it comes to diplomatic welcome.
In a limousine flanked by parade-clad cavalry, the Prime Minister arrived at the grandiose Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Presidential Palace.
It was from this place that the mighty Mughal Empire was ruled. And from this palace that the Governor-General of Great Britain held a firm hand in the crown jewel of the empire. Now it is the place from which postcolonial, united India shows its power and might.
Narendra Modi, the democratically elected leader of the 1.4 billion Indians, greeted the Prime Minister with clasped palms as she stepped out of the limousine.
And after a slightly lame version of “King Christian stood by the high mast” from an Indian military orchestra, Mette Frederiksen inspected a parade company from each of the military’s three armies.
Together with Narendra Modi, she then said a few words to mainly the Indian press:
– India is a close partner for Denmark and I am delighted to be received by the Prime Minister.
– We see an ambitious Indian government when it comes to taking responsibility for the green transition both in India and globally, she said.
The visit is diplomatically the final end to the shipwreck that the relationship between Denmark and India suffered due to the fact that Denmark will not extradite Niels Holck, who in India is seen as a terrorist.
For 10 years, work has been done to normalize the relationship so that Denmark and not least the Danish business community can gain a place on the Indian market.
Here, large investments are underway in green conversion and not least better access to clean drinking water.
In India, it is important to be on good terms with the Prime Minister, who is largely setting the direction in the country.
And here Mette Frederiksen could not have hoped for more on Saturday at the official welcome ceremony.
Source: The Nordic Page