Overview
Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted a historic 5-nation tour (2-9 July, 2025) to Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia, aimed at strengthening India's engagement with the Global South and deepening strategic partnerships across the Atlantic.
1. GHANA (First Stop)
Key Highlights
- Historic Achievement: Elevated India-Ghana ties to the Comprehensive Partnership level
- Highest Honour: PM Modi conferred with "The Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana" - Ghana's highest civilian honour
- Parliamentary Address: Historic address to Ghana's Parliament
Agreements & MoUs
- 4 MoUs signed covering:
- Cultural exchange and traditional music
- Standards cooperation
- Ayurveda and Traditional Medicine
- Joint Commission Mechanism between Foreign Ministries
Key Statements & Quotes
PM Modi on India-Ghana relationship:
"The relationship between India and Ghana knows no bounds, noting the friendship between the two nations is sweeter than Ghana's famous 'Sugar Loaf Pineapple'"
PM Modi on democracy:
"For India, democracy is not just a system, it is a part of our fundamental values"
PM Modi describing India:
"India as the mother of democracy, stressing the importance of openness and dialogue in a democratic setup"
Cooperation Areas Discussed
- Vaccine hub development for West African region
- Digital public infrastructure
- Skill development
- Critical minerals
- Defence and maritime security
- Energy cooperation
2. TRINIDAD & TOBAGO (Second Stop)
Key Highlights
- Historic Milestone: Commemorating 180 years of India-Trinidad & Tobago relations
- Highest Honour: PM Modi conferred with "The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago" - the Caribbean nation's highest civilian honour
- Parliamentary Address: Historic address to Joint Session of Parliament at the iconic Red House
Major Announcements
- OCI Extension: 6th generation Indian-origin citizens now eligible for OCI cards
- Digital Infrastructure: Trinidad & Tobago becomes first Caribbean nation to adopt UPI
- Educational Support: India to provide 2000 laptops to students
Agreements & MoUs
- 6 agreements signed covering:
- Diplomatic training
- Sports cooperation
- ICCR establishment
- Cultural exchanges
- Accessible pharmaceuticals
- Infrastructure development
Key Statements & Quotes
PM Modi on Global South:
"The voice of the developing world remains on the margins and India will work with its partners to give the Global South its rightful seat at the high table"
PM Modi on democracy:
"Democracy is more than just a political system for India, calling it a way of life"
PM Modi on global governance:
"The old institutions are struggling to deliver peace and progress while at the same time, the Global South is rising"
Cooperation Areas
- Disaster management
- Climate change
- Defense
- Technology
- Healthcare
- Agricultural research
3. ARGENTINA (Third Stop)
Key Highlights
- Historic Visit: First bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Argentina in 57 years
- Strategic Partnership: Agreed to further deepen existing strategic partnership
- Ceremonial Honor: Received "Key to the City of Buenos Aires"
Key Meetings
- Bilateral talks with President Javier Milei
- Paid tribute to General José de San Martín (Argentina's freedom fighter)
- Paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore statues
Major Discussions & Agreements
- MERCOSUR Expansion: Support for expanding India-MERCOSUR preferential trade agreement
- Pharmaceutical Cooperation: Argentina to allow imports of medicines with US FDA/European EMA approvals
- Energy Partnership: Cooperation in shale gas, oil, and critical minerals (lithium, copper, rare earth elements)
- Space Cooperation: Building on 2007 launch of Argentina's first satellite by ISRO
- UPI Interest: President Milei showed keen interest in India's UPI digital payment system
Key Statements
PM Modi on Mahatma Gandhi:
"Mahatma Gandhi's timeless vision and noble ideals will always guide humanity"
PM Modi on Rabindranath Tagore:
"Gurudev Tagore had visited Argentina in 1924 and had left a lasting impression on the minds of many people in this nation, especially scholars and students"
Cooperation Areas
- Defense and security
- Agriculture and food processing
- Mining and mineral resources
- Renewable energy
- Trade and investment
- Space technology
- Sports management (cricket-football collaboration)
4. BRAZIL (Fourth Stop)
A. BRICS Summit (Rio de Janeiro)
Key Highlights
- 17th BRICS Summit participation
- India's Future Role: India to assume BRICS Chairmanship in 2026
- Pahalgam Terror Attack: BRICS leaders condemned the April 22 attack in strongest terms
Major Statements by PM Modi
On Global South and institutional reforms:
"The Global South often faces double standards about development, distribution of resources, and security-related matters"
"Without the Global South, these institutions are like a mobile phone with a SIM card without a network"
"21st Century software cannot run on 20th Century typewriters"
On Climate Justice:
"For India, Climate Justice is no alternative but a Moral Duty"
On AI and Technology:
"No country should weaponise critical minerals, technology and supply chains to further its selfish gain"
Key Initiatives Proposed by PM Modi
- BRICS Science and Research Repository
- AI Impact Summit (to be hosted by India)
- Secure supply chains for critical minerals
- Responsible AI governance
Bilateral Meetings on BRICS Sidelines
- Malaysia: Reviewed Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
- Cuba: Discussed biotechnology, pharma, Ayurveda, Digital Public Infrastructure
- Bolivia: Bilateral discussions with President Luis Arce Catacora
- Uruguay: Meeting with President Yamandú Orsi
B. State Visit to Brasília
Key Highlights
- Historic Visit: First bilateral visit by Indian PM to Brazil in 57 years (second overall)
- Highest Honor: PM Modi conferred with "Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross" - Brazil's highest civilian award
- Trade Target: Set ambitious target of $20 billion bilateral trade by 2030 (from current $12.2 billion)
Major Announcements
- UPI in Brazil: Plans to enable UPI adoption in Brazil
- MERCOSUR Expansion: Work to expand preferential trade agreement
- Pharmaceutical Cooperation: Brazilian welcome to Indian pharma companies setting up base in Brazil
Agreements & MoUs
- 6 MoUs signed:
- Counter-terrorism and transnational crime intelligence
- Biofuel cooperation (ethanol blended fuel)
- Renewable energy cooperation
- Agriculture research
- Classified information exchange
- Intellectual Property regime
Key Cooperation Areas
- Agriculture and food processing
- Digital public infrastructure
- Space technology
- Defense and security
- Critical minerals access
- Sports management (cricket-football collaboration)
5. NAMIBIA (Fifth & Final Stop)
Key Highlights
- Historic Visit: First PM Modi visit to Namibia; third-ever Indian PM visit after 27 years
- Highest Honour: PM Modi conferred with "Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis" - Namibia's highest civilian award (4th award during this tour, 27th overall)
- Parliamentary Address: Historic address to the Namibian Parliament
Major Announcements
- UPI Launch: Namibia becomes the first country globally where NPCI signed a technology agreement with the central bank for a UPI-like system
- Global Initiatives: Namibia joined:
- Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)
- Global Bio Fuel Alliance
- International Big Cat Alliance
Agreements & MoUs
- 4 MoUs signed:
- Health and Medicine cooperation
- Entrepreneurship Development Centre establishment
- Digital Payment System implementation
- Capacity building programs
Key Statements by PM Modi
On Africa's role:
"Africa must not be viewed merely as a source of raw materials, but as a continent that must lead in value creation and sustainable growth"
On partnership approach:
"Build a future not through power, but through partnership, while preserving their indigenous identities"
On India-Africa relationship:
"India is deeply concerned about the Global South and believes in growing together with the world, not just individually"
On shared values:
"The true value of the India-Africa partnership lies in shared growth and shared purpose"
Cooperation Areas
- Critical minerals and hydrocarbons
- Defense cooperation
- Healthcare and traditional medicine
- Digital public infrastructure
- Capacity building
- Agriculture and food security
- Environmental conservation
On his 5-nation tour, PM Modi presented global leaders with gifts that carried more than artistic value. Each offering was a tribute to our timeless traditions, crafted by the hands of Indian artisans and steeped in spiritual and cultural significance.
Here are the iconic gifts presented to world leaders, each one echoing the powerful message of “Vikas bhi, Virasat bhi.”
Key Diplomatic Meetings (EAM Jaishankar)
On BRICS Sidelines:
- Iran: Met Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi - discussed regional developments
- Russia: Met Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov - discussed bilateral cooperation, West Asia, BRICS, SCO
- Mexico: Met Secretary of Foreign Affairs Juan Ramón de la Fuente - discussed health, digital, technology, space cooperation
Major Themes & Strategic Outcomes
1. Global South Leadership
- Consistent emphasis on Global South representation in international institutions
- Call for comprehensive reforms in UN Security Council, IMF, World Bank, WTO
- Advocacy for multipolar and inclusive world order
2. Counter-Terrorism Cooperation
- Strong condemnation of Pahalgam terror attack by all partner nations
- Emphasis on zero tolerance for terrorism
- Rejection of double standards in counter-terrorism efforts
3. Digital Infrastructure Expansion
- UPI adoption in multiple countries (Brazil, Namibia, Trinidad & Tobago)
- Digital public infrastructure cooperation
- Technology transfer and capacity building
4. Economic Partnerships
- Ambitious trade targets (Brazil: $20 billion by 2030)
- Focus on critical minerals and energy security
- Pharmaceutical cooperation and healthcare access
5. Climate and Environment
- Climate justice as moral duty
- Sustainable development partnerships
- Green energy cooperation
6. Cultural and People-to-People Ties
- OCI extension for Trinidad & Tobago (6th generation)
- Cultural exchange programs
- Educational cooperation and skill development
Historic Significance
- First bilateral visits in decades: Argentina (57 years), Brazil (57 years), Namibia (27 years)
- Highest civilian honors: Received from all 5 nations visited
- Comprehensive partnership elevation: Ghana elevated to Comprehensive Partnership
- Global South advocacy: Consistent push for reformed global governance
- Digital payment expansion: Multiple countries adopting UPI-like systems
- BRICS leadership: India set to assume chairmanship with clear agenda
Looking Forward
India's BRICS Chairmanship (2026)
- Theme: "Building Resilience and Innovation for Cooperation and Sustainability"
- AI Impact Summit to be hosted by India
- Focus on South-South cooperation
- Emphasis on responsible AI governance
Multilateral Engagement
- Strengthened ties with the African Union, ECOWAS, and CARICOM
- Enhanced cooperation in the BRICS and G20 platforms
- Continued advocacy for Global South priorities
This comprehensive tour successfully reinforced India's position as a leading voice of the Global South while establishing concrete partnerships for economic, technological, and strategic cooperation across multiple continents.
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