Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to New Delhi on Thursday morning, wrapping up a wide-ranging diplomatic tour of five nations, Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia, marked by deepening bilateral ties, global outreach, and rare civilian honours.
The journey, conducted between July 2 and 9, included Modi’s participation at the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro under Brazil’s chairmanship and featured an extensive slate of bilateral meetings with heads of state across three continents.
Modi began the tour with a historic stop in Ghana, his visit to Accra marking the first by an Indian Prime Minister in over three decades. During talks with President John Mahama, both leaders agreed to upgrade bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Partnership. Modi identified critical minerals, defence, energy, and maritime security as areas of “immense scope” for collaboration. Ghana also conferred upon him its highest civilian honour, the Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana, which he described as “a matter of immense pride”.
On July 3, Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister since 1999 to visit Trinidad and Tobago. In Port of Spain, he met with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and addressed the nation's Parliament. In a gesture widely welcomed by the Indian diaspora, Modi announced the extension of Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) eligibility to sixth-generation descendants of Indian-origin Trinidadians. The Caribbean nation bestowed upon him its highest civilian award, The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, during a ceremonial event.
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In Argentina, Modi held productive discussions with President Javier Milei in Buenos Aires on July 4. Their talks centred around deepening cooperation in agriculture, defence, oil and gas, mining, renewable energy, and trade. Modi said he was confident their engagement would add “significant momentum” to bilateral ties. He was also presented with the symbolic Key to the City of Buenos Aires by Jorge Macri, Chief of the City Government.
The fourth leg of Modi’s tour brought him to Brazil, where he took part in the 17th BRICS Summit from July 6 to 7 in Rio de Janeiro. Following the summit, he paid a State Visit to Brasilia, where he held bilateral talks with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to broaden the Strategic Partnership between India and Brazil. Key areas included space technology, agriculture, energy, health, and defence. Modi was conferred with Brazil’s highest civilian honour, The Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross, during the visit.
The final stop was Namibia. Modi addressed the Namibian Parliament, receiving a standing ovation. In recognition of his role in strengthening India-Namibia relations, he was awarded the Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis, the country’s highest civilian award, by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.
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