Breaking a 57-year hiatus in bilateral visits, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival in Argentina marked a historic inflection point in India’s Latin American diplomacy. From drones to jaguars, the agenda underscored India’s expanding footprint in frontier technologies and environmental cooperation.
During high-level talks at the Casa Rosada, Modi and President Javier Milei explored new avenues of partnership, with drone technology emerging as a standout area of collaboration.
Briefing reporters after the engagement, External Affairs Secretary (East) P Kumaran said, “The conversation between Prime Minister Modi and President Milei significantly dealt with the use of drones and multiple purposes for which they can be put into.”
Use cases discussed included monitoring Argentina’s exclusive economic zones to curb illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing, agricultural productivity, cattle management, and surveillance of high-tension power lines. “There was also talk about using drones for border surveillance… instead of the traditional reliance on helicopters which is much more expensive,” Kumaran added.
The meeting also marked a pivot into environmental diplomacy, with India inviting Argentina to join the International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA), a coalition launched by Modi in 2023 to coordinate global conservation of seven apex predators: tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar, and puma.
“The Prime Minister welcomed Argentina to join the International Big Cat Alliance and to work with us on sharing experiences and capacity building in terms of conservation of the big cats,” Kumaran said.
Argentina’s biodiversity, which includes both the jaguar and puma, makes it a natural fit for the coalition, which aims to facilitate international cooperation and share India’s conservation expertise with other member states.
Also read: Modi lands in Argentina, first Indian PM to visit in 57 years
The bilateral engagement began with Modi laying a wreath at the bust of General San Martin, the revered liberator of Argentina. He was received with ceremonial honours at Casa Rosada, followed by a brief tete-a-tete with Milei and delegation-level talks reviewing the full spectrum of ties, including space, defence, energy and emerging technology.
Modi thanked Milei for “extending warm hospitality” to him and his delegation and expressed appreciation for the “gracious welcome”.
The visit also witnessed a vibrant reception from the Indian diaspora in Buenos Aires. Cultural performances and patriotic chants by Indian-origin residents underscored people-to-people ties that underpin diplomatic engagements.
This was the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Argentina in 57 years, the last such engagement having taken place in 1968. Modi had last visited Argentina in 2018 for the G20 Summit, but this trip marked a dedicated effort to strengthen stand-alone relations.
Beyond symbolism, officials see the visit as an opportunity to catalyse private-sector participation in drone technology, particularly in sectors such as agriculture, energy, border security, and infrastructure inspection, areas where Argentina is seeking cost-effective solutions.
India’s offer to collaborate on unmanned aerial systems and share capacity-building expertise also reflects Delhi’s growing confidence in exporting its technological capabilities to the global South.
As the visit concluded, both countries reaffirmed their commitment to forward-looking cooperation across innovation, strategic technology, climate resilience, and wildlife protection, setting a foundation for durable ties in an often-overlooked geography.
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