PM Modi’s Five-Nation Tour to Strengthen Global South Ties and Defense Cooperation
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on an eight-day diplomatic tour starting July 2, visiting Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia. The trip, which includes participation in the BRICS Summit in Brazil, aims to bolster India’s partnerships across Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America, with a focus on defense cooperation, critical minerals, counter-terrorism, and south-south collaboration, according to officials from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The tour begins in Ghana from July 2-3, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in over three decades. Modi will meet President Nana Akufo-Addo to discuss deepening ties in economic, energy, and defense sectors, while also reinforcing India’s engagement with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union. A key highlight will be Modi’s address to the Ghanaian Parliament, symbolizing shared democratic values. Notably, the Speaker’s chair in Ghana’s Parliament was a gift from India, underscoring longstanding ties, said Sneha Malhotra, Joint Secretary (Central and West Africa) at the MEA.
On July 3-4, Modi will visit Trinidad and Tobago, the first such visit by an Indian Prime Minister since 1999. Invited by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, he will hold talks with her and President Christine Carla Kangaloo to strengthen historical and diaspora connections. Modi is expected to address a joint session of the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament, further emphasizing cultural and democratic linkages.
The third leg of the tour takes Modi to Argentina from July 4-5, where he will meet President Javier Gerardo Milei for their first full-fledged bilateral discussions. The agenda includes expanding cooperation in defense, rare earth minerals, agriculture, traditional and renewable energy, and trade and investment. This visit marks the first bilateral trip by an Indian Prime Minister to Argentina in 57 years, described as “historic” by Secretary (East) P Kumaran.
From July 5-8, Modi will attend the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, followed by a state visit to Brasilia. The summit, themed “Strengthening Global South Cooperation for Inclusive and Sustainable Governance,” will see leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and the UAE discuss global governance reform, peace and security, climate action, global health, artificial intelligence, and economic cooperation. The leaders’ declaration is expected to condemn the April 22 Pahalgam attack and call for collective action against terrorism, reflecting India’s push for global support in its campaign against cross-border terror following Operation Sindoor on May 7. In Brasilia, Modi will hold bilateral talks with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to deepen the India-Brazil strategic partnership in trade, defense, energy, space, technology, agriculture, and health.
The tour concludes in Namibia on July 9, Modi’s first visit to the country and the third by an Indian Prime Minister. Hosted by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, discussions will focus on diamond trade, critical minerals like cobalt, lithium, and uranium, and an agreement on unified payment interoperability. Modi will also address the Namibian Parliament, reinforcing India’s commitment to Africa’s development and aspirations for local manufacturing and value addition, as noted by an MEA official.
India’s approach to Africa, described as mutually beneficial by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, contrasts with “extractive” models, emphasizing sustainable partnerships. The tour underscores India’s strategic outreach to the Global South, aiming to counter China’s growing influence in Africa while fostering cooperation in critical sectors.