India displayed its military might with tanks and flyovers with fighter jets roaring in the heart of New Delhi on Thursday to mark the annual Republic Day.
The annual parade is a spectacle of motorcycle stunts, traditional dances and soldiers mounted on camels at a time when emerging Asian powers face severe security challenges.
independence of India
Republic Day marks the adoption of India’s post-independence constitution and Thursday’s event was the latest in a series of ceremonies commemorating 75 years since the end of British colonialism last August.
For the first time the parade was held on the converted colonial-era boulevard that hosts India’s most important government buildings, after years of renovations at the direction of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s nationalist government.
“We will move forward together to fulfill the dreams of the heroes of our freedom movement,” Modi wrote on Twitter to mark the occasion.
India has benefited in recent years from economic growth and diplomatic influence that has increased its position in global affairs.
However, the Modi government is grappling with the daunting task of overhauling its aging armed forces.
Military recruitment
The military establishment is also worried about China’s assertiveness along the vast Himalayan border, which in 2019 led to an ongoing diplomatic freeze after deadly high-profile confrontations between the two countries’ forces.
India unveiled its first locally built aircraft carrier last year as part of the government’s efforts to build an indigenous defense industry and reduce dependence on Russia, historically its most important arms supplier.
Efforts to reform military recruitment to reduce India’s bloated defense salaries stalled last year after a backlash from wannabe soldiers, who torched train carriages and clashed with police in heated protests.
The parade’s guest of honor, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, is the first major world leader to visit India in a year as the government eagerly prepares to host the G20 summit for the first time.