What is the secret behind Trump and Modi’s ‘side-by-side’ seating? How is the diplomatic seating plan determined? What is the secret of Trump and Modi’s ‘side by side’ seats, how is the seating plan of diplomacy decided? – ..

A recent picture from the ‘G7 Summit’, the platform of the world’s most powerful countries, is currently making a lot of headlines from social media to international diplomatic corridors. In this picture, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump are seen sitting side by side and discussing very warmly. After the video of this high-profile meeting has surfaced, it is natural to raise a question in the minds of common people whether this meeting place of global leaders is just a coincidence or there is some deep diplomatic mathematics hidden behind it. In fact, behind the seating arrangement of leaders in international conferences, a complex web of very strict protocols, history and strategies of the host country works.

alphabetical rule or special diplomatic gesture

The most common and fair way of seating leaders at global forums is in alphabetical order. Under this, chairs are placed on the basis of the first letter of the official names of the countries (like C of Canada, F of France, I of India) so that there is no dispute of making any country smaller or bigger. However, in conferences with special and limited members like G7, sometimes the host country makes partial changes in this arrangement keeping in mind the diplomatic priorities. The sitting together of Prime Minister Modi and President Trump also indicates how strong and important the strategic relations between India and America have become in the current global scenario.

Special protocol for host country and ‘outreach’ guests

Another very important role in the seating arrangement of the G7 is that of the ‘Head of the Host Country’, who sits in the center of the main table. Since India is not a permanent member of the G7 but is invited as a special ‘Outreach Nation’, the protocol team works months in advance to accommodate the core members and guest countries. In this, special care is taken that the countries which are playing the biggest role on the global geo-politics or economic front, should get a special place at the main table. This closeness between Trump and Modi not only reflects the personal rapport between the two leaders, but also confirms India’s growing stature on the global stage.

One wrong seat can lead to a big international controversy

You will be surprised to know that in these conferences, not only the chairs, but also the angle of the cameras and the order of movement of the leaders are fixed in advance. In the language of diplomacy, this work of the ‘Protocol Department’ is considered very sensitive, because even a slight mistake in the seating arrangement or unknowingly making a leader sit behind or away can be considered a big diplomatic insult (Diplomatic Affront). There have been many such occasions in history when tension had arisen between countries regarding seating arrangements. This is the reason why these details are finalized in the Sherpa Meeting of G7 itself, so that when world leaders like Modi and Trump sit together, only a strong message of friendship and cooperation is sent to the world.