US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin are among some of the world’s leaders who have adopted the Indian style of greeting.
New Delhi:
French President Emmanuel Macron leaned forward and folded his hands in the traditional Indian "namaste" as he welcomed German Chancellor Angela Merkel to his Mediterranean holiday resort, Fort Brigancon, in southern France.
The German chancellor similarly responded in what became a form of popular salutation among world leaders at a time of the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic. The two leaders meet at the summer residence of the French president to discuss a long list of issues including the pandemic, post-election unrest in Belarus and rising tensions with Turkey.
US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are among the world leaders who have chosen "Namaste" over the usual handshake in line with social distancing restrictions to avoid injury.
The Israeli prime minister was one of the first world leaders to endorse the Indian-style salute. You can try to implement the Indian Namaste system or say another word like Shalom, but you have to find a way, in whatever way, not to shake hands, ”Netanyahu said.
In March, Donald Trump was also photographed greeting visiting Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar with a folded hand. "We didn't shake hands today. We looked at each other and said what we're going to do. You know, kind of a strange feeling," Trump told reporters after meeting with Mr. Varadkar, who is of Indian descent.
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