So, recently, PM Modi welcomed the Emir of Qatar in a way that made headlines everywhere. He referred to him as his brother, saying, “He’s like my brother.” To show his respect for this world leader, PM Modi broke protocol. PM Modi tweeted that he personally went to the airport to welcome his brother, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to India.
Here, you’ll see images of a grand welcome for the US in India. You need to understand why this news is making so many headlines: it’s because PM Modi rarely breaks protocol. So, what does protocol mean? Well, whenever a world leader visits India, they’re usually greeted by an official from the Ministry or, in some cases, an official from the Air Force. If you really want to show a lot of respect, sometimes the Foreign Minister is sent to welcome that world leader.
If the Prime Minister himself goes to receive a world leader, that’s breaking protocol. You can think of protocol as rules, guidelines, or etiquette. Protocols are only broken for world leaders who are really important to India. If I take you back in history, PM Modi has rarely broken protocol. The first instance that comes to mind is when he was newly elected in 2015 and invited Barack Obama, who was then the President of the USA, to India.
During the Republic Day parade, Obama accepted the invitation, and at that time, PM Modi probably didn’t realize what would happen with the Democratic Party in the future. But what stood out was that Barack Obama got off the plane, and PM Modi personally went to the airport to receive him. It was the first time I saw a world leader break protocol like that to greet someone directly at the airport. After that, if you look at it, PM Modi did the same for Emmanuel Macron when he came to India in 2018.
Then, when PM Modi was discussing the Rafale deal, a lot of developments were happening, so he directly received Emmanuel Macron at the airport. This gesture was obviously greatly appreciated by the French government because it is the ultimate symbol of respect. It shows that someone is so important that the Prime Minister himself breaks all the set protocols to receive them. After Emmanuel Macron, if you look at it, the next instance was with Donald Trump. When Donald Trump came to India during his first term, PM Modi welcomed him in the same way. Here, you can see Trump getting off his plane, Air Force One, and PM Modi being the first to welcome him. Trump was obviously very happy at that time, and it’s notable that a few months later, COVID spread worldwide. But here, you can see what it looks like when protocol is broken for a major leader.
Interestingly, PM Modi broke protocol for Obama and Trump but never did so for Biden. When India hosted the T-20 Summit in 2023 and Joe Biden came to India, his reception was relatively lukewarm. You can see here that PM Modi did not come to receive him personally.
If you’re wondering whether PM Modi has always broken protocol for major world leaders or if major world leaders have ever done the same for Modi, the answer is yes. For example, recently when Modi attended the AI Summit in France, Emmanuel Macron himself came to the airport to see him off as he left for the US. Here, you can see Macron hugging PM Modi and waiting until Modi boarded his plane. It depends on the country-to-country relations.
Now, you might be wondering why PM Modi is giving so much importance to the Emir of Qatar. The reason is simple. Here on the map of Asia, you can see Qatar. If I zoom in, you can see it is a small country with its capital in Doha. Recently, Qatar hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Unlike its neighboring countries, Qatar is not known for its oil exports but for its natural gas. Qatar has vast natural gas resources in the Persian Gulf, and India imports a significant amount of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Qatar. India imports 48% of its LNG from Qatar, which is almost 50%. Recently, India struck a 20-year deal with Qatar, ensuring a steady supply of LNG at low rates until 2048, saving India approximately 6 billion dollars.
After discussing natural gas, let’s talk about investments. Qatar has its own sovereign wealth fund. Recently, Donald Trump mentioned that the USA might create its own sovereign wealth fund. Under Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund, several Indian companies, such as Adani Greens, Adani Transmission, and Reliance, have received investments. India is set to receive billions of dollars in investments from Qatar in the coming years.
Lastly, let’s talk about the case of Indian Navy officers. Several former officers working in the Indian Navy were jailed in Qatar. There was a concern that Qatar’s courts might sentence them to death, but the Qatari government intervened, and their sentences were lifted, allowing them to return to India. Qatar showed sensitivity to India’s concerns and acted accordingly.
Now, after discussing the respect PM Modi has given to US Presidents and French Presidents, it’s evident why Qatar’s Emir has received similar respect. Qatar has done a lot for India in recent years.
Finally, I have a question for you: Which country recently decided to take its trade with India to 500 billion dollars by 2030? Here are your options: United States, China, Japan, or Qatar. Comment your answer below.