Outgoing United States President Donald Trump has presented the prestigious ‘Legion of Merit’, a top US honour, to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Donald Trump presented this prestigious award to PM Narendra Modi for his leadership in “elevating strategic partnership of the two countries”.
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Taranjit Singh Sandhu, India’s Ambassador to the US, accepted the award on behalf of Prime Minister Modi.
US National Security Advisor (NSA) Robert O’Brien presented the award on behalf of Donald Trump at the White House.
“President Donald Trump presented the Legion of Merit to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership in elevating the US-India strategic partnership. Ambassador Sandhu Taranjit S accepted the medal on behalf of Prime Minister Modi,” said United States NSA Robert C O’Brien.
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“President @realDonaldTrump presented the Legion of Merit to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his leadership in elevating the U.S.-India strategic partnership. Ambassador @SandhuTaranjitS accepted the medal on behalf of Prime Minister Modi.” –NSA Robert C. O’Brien pic.twitter.com/QhOjTROdCC
— NSC 45 Archived (@WHNSC45) December 21, 2020
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Besides, Donald Trump also presented the ‘Legion of Merit’ honour to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
“On behalf of President @realDonaldTrump, I presented the Legion of Merit to @ScottMorrisonMP, @narendramodi, and @AbeShinzo, through Ambassadors @A_Sinodinos, Sugiyama @JapanEmbDC, and @SandhuTaranjitS, who accepted the decorations.” –NSA Robert C. O’Brien pic.twitter.com/hmgiQrY5RP
— NSC 45 Archived (@WHNSC45) December 21, 2020
Notably, all the three Prime Ministers presented ‘Legion of Merit’ happen to be PMs and ex-PM of the recently constituted ‘Quad’.
Quad – comprising Japan, India, Australia and the United States (US) – was given a final shape in 2017, to the long-pending proposal of setting up Quadrilateral coalition to counter China’s aggressive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs has stated that the award is in recognition of the “PM’s steadfast leadership and vision for India’s emergence as a global power, and exemplary contribution made by him for the advancement of India-United States strategic partnership and promoting global peace and prosperity”.