India's PM Modi returns home after five-nation tour, participation at 17th BRICS Summit

KATHMANDU: India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to New Delhi on Thursday morning, concluding his five-nation tour from July 2 to July 9, ANI reported. The diplomatic mission took him to Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil and Namibia, and included participation in the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro under Brazil’s chairmanship.

Modi began in Ghana, arriving in Accra on July 2 for the first visit by an Indian prime minister in more than 30 years. He held talks with President John Mahama to review their strong partnership and explore further economic, energy, defence and development cooperation. The two leaders agreed to elevate bilateral ties to a comprehensive partnership, with Modi highlighting the “immense scope” for collaboration on critical minerals, maritime security and energy. President Mahama conferred on him the Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana, a gesture Modi called “a matter of immense pride.”

On July 3, Modi travelled to Trinidad and Tobago for his first official Caribbean visit as prime minister and the first at prime-ministerial level since 1999. He met his counterpart, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, addressed Parliament and announced that Overseas Citizenship of India cards will be extended to the sixth generation of the local Indian diaspora. He was also awarded the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago at a ceremony in Port of Spain.

Modi reached Buenos Aires on July 4 for talks with President Javier Milei on defence, agriculture, mining, oil and gas, renewable energy, trade, investment and people-to-people ties. Describing the visit as “productive,” he welcomed the Key to the City of Buenos Aires from Jorge Macri, chief of the city government.

The fourth leg saw Modi attend the BRICS Summit in Rio from July 6 to July 7, followed by a state visit to Brazil and talks in Brasília with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on broadening their strategic partnership in trade, defence, energy, space, technology, agriculture and health. Lula da Silva conferred the Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross on Modi, Brazil’s highest civilian honour.

In Namibia, Modi addressed the National Assembly on July 8, receiving a standing ovation, and was awarded the Order of the Most Ancient Welwitschia Mirabilis by Acting President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah.