Sources further said that the visit to India by Mr Trump in the near future is currently not on the radar of the US administration

New Delhi: United States of America President Donald Trump is unlikely to visit India next year in January as the chief guest for Republic Day celebrations. According to highly placed sources, while Washington has acknowledged the invitation sent by New Delhi, it is reliably learnt that the visit may not happen owing to his other engagements during that period.

Sources further said that the visit to India by Mr Trump in the near future is currently not on the radar of the US administration. The Government is keen to invite Mr Trump as chief guest for 2019 Republic Day function, which would be the NDA regime’s last before the Lok Sabha polls.

It had invited then US president Barack Obama as chief guest during the Republic Day function in 2015. Considering the fact that there have been differences between India and the US over trade issues, the ties are currently going through a “uneasy” phase, and therefore this could also be a reason behind keeping the visit on the back-burner.