Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to New Delhi on Thursday after concluding a significant five-nation diplomatic tour that spanned Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia. The journey highlighted India’s proactive role in shaping a multipolar world and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to strengthening bonds with key nations, especially in the Global South.
A central moment of the trip was Modi’s participation in the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where he engaged with global leaders to deliberate on reforming multilateral institutions, promoting sustainable development, and enhancing global economic governance.
In Argentina and Brazil, the Prime Minister focused on expanding economic cooperation, with discussions revolving around investment, agriculture, technology, and defense collaboration. The agreements signed during these engagements are expected to pave the way for deepened commercial relations.
The Africa leg of his journey—Ghana and Namibia—was aimed at building stronger regional partnerships. The talks centered on capacity-building, infrastructure development, and educational exchange programs, strengthening India’s collaborative presence across the continent. In Trinidad and Tobago, PM Modi reinforced India’s enduring cultural and diaspora connections within the Caribbean, reflecting India’s soft power approach.
A standout achievement of this tour was the series of prestigious honors conferred upon PM Modi by host nations. He was awarded Brazil’s Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross, Namibia’s Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis, and The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. These recognitions elevate his total count of foreign civilian honors to 27 since taking office in May 2014.
Notably, during this tour, PM Modi addressed the parliaments of Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Namibia. With these speeches, he matched the combined total of 17 parliamentary addresses delivered abroad by all former Congress Prime Ministers put together. This list includes Manmohan Singh (7), Indira Gandhi (4), Jawaharlal Nehru (3), Rajiv Gandhi (2), and PV Narasimha Rao (1).
The tour, hailed as a major diplomatic milestone, reaffirms India’s rising global stature and its focus on building equitable and inclusive global partnerships across continents.
