India Deflects Questions Over BRICS Invitation Protocol for Bangladesh Leadership
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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has extended an invitation to Bangladeshi leader Tarique Rahman to attend the outreach session of the upcoming BRICS summit in New Delhi. The invitation, extended in his capacity as the current chair of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), has sparked diplomatic scrutiny regarding the formal protocol used in the correspondence.
During a weekly press briefing in New Delhi on Friday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal faced inquiries concerning reports that the invitation addressed Rahman as the “BIMSTEC Chair” rather than “Prime Minister,” a move some observers have characterized as a potential diplomatic slight. Jaiswal declined to address the specific framing of the title, stating only that India is in the midst of comprehensive preparations for the summit. He added that further technical details regarding the invitations would be shared at a later date.
The briefing also touched upon the regional diplomatic landscape, specifically the ongoing three-day visit to Bangladesh by the U.S. Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti. When questioned on whether there exists a formal mechanism for the U.S. envoy—who also serves as a special representative for South and Central Asia—to coordinate or disclose his regional activities to New Delhi, Jaiswal maintained a neutral stance. He emphasized that the details and objectives of the ambassador’s visit to Dhaka are matters to be addressed by the U.S. Embassy or the Bangladeshi government, as they concern the bilateral relationship between those two nations.
Furthermore, when asked about reports of a meeting between the U.S. Ambassador and the Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Jaiswal indicated that he had no official information regarding the encounter. He noted that the ministry would provide updates should any relevant details become available in the future.
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