Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday evening (local time), marking the fourth leg of his five-nation tour. His visit to Brazil includes participation in the 17th BRICS Summit and a rare bilateral state visit to the capital Brasília, the first by an Indian prime minister in nearly six decades.
Upon landing at Galeão International Airport, Modi was received with a ceremonial welcome. At his hotel, he was greeted by members of the Indian diaspora, who raised chants of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and showcased a series of cultural performances.
In a moving tribute, the community organised a traditional dance themed around Operation Sindoor, India’s recent calibrated military response to asymmetric warfare. The performance commemorated the April 2025 terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam and celebrated India’s retaliatory strike that, without breaching the Line of Control or international boundary, eliminated multiple terror threats. The government described the mission as deliberate, precise and strategic.
“Landed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where I will take part in the BRICS Summit and later go to their capital, Brasília, for a state visit on the invitation of President Lula. Hoping for a productive round of meetings and interactions during this visit,” Modi posted on X following his arrival.
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The External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also shared the arrival update on X: “Committed to BRICS partnership! PM @narendramodi lands in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the 17th BRICS Summit.”
The Prime Minister had just concluded a packed schedule in Argentina, where he held wide-ranging talks with President Javier Milei. Both leaders agreed to expand cooperation in trade, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, defence, energy, and mining.
The two-day BRICS Summit will be held on July 6 and 7 in Rio de Janeiro, followed by Modi’s state visit to Brasília at the invitation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
India’s renewed engagement with Brazil comes as BRICS undergoes expansion. The five-member bloc, Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, has now welcomed Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates as new members.
In his departure statement, Modi reaffirmed India’s foundational commitment to BRICS as a platform for advancing cooperation among emerging economies.
“As a founding member, India sees BRICS as a key platform for cooperation among emerging economies. Together, we strive for a more peaceful, equitable, just, democratic and balanced multipolar world order,” he said.
During the summit, Modi is expected to hold bilateral discussions with several global leaders. His itinerary so far has included visits to Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Argentina. He will travel next to Namibia on the concluding leg of his diplomatic tour.
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