PM Modi kicks off 5-nation tour: Ghana, Argentina, Brazil and more on itinerary; Brics, trade in focus | India News

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off the landmark five-nation tour on Wednesday, with visits lined up to Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia between July 2 and 9. The wide-ranging trip is aimed at enhancing India’s deepening engagement with the Global South and its commitment to forging stronger partnerships across the Atlantic. “I am confident that my visits to the five countries will reinforce our bonds friendship across the Global South, strengthen our partnerships on both sides of the Atlantic, and deepen engagements in the multilateral platforms such as BRICS, the African Union, ECOWAS and the CARICOM,” the Prime Minister said in his departure statement.PM leaves for GhanaPM Modi’s first stop is Ghana, where he will be hosted by President John Dramani Mahama. During the July 2–3 visit, PM Modi is set to focus on enhancing cooperation in sectors such as investment, energy, health, security, and development. “Ghana is a valued partner in the Global South and plays an important role in the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States,” he said. PM will also address the Parliament of Ghana- a gesture he called “an honour” for both countries as fellow democracies.‘Opportunity to rejuvenate the special bonds’: PM Modi on visit to Trinidad & Tobago Then in West Africa, the Prime Minister will travel to Trinidad & Tobago on July 3–4. Calling the Caribbean nation a country with which India shares “deep-rooted historical, cultural and people-to-people connect,” PM Modi noted that this year marks 180 years since the first Indians arrived there. He will meet President Christine Carla Kangaloo and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who recently began her second term in office. “This visit will provide an opportunity to rejuvenate the special bonds of ancestry and kinship that unite us,” he said.First visit to Argentina in over 5 decades Next, PM Modi will head to Buenos Aires, marking the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Argentina in 57 years. Argentina, described as “a key economic partner in Latin America and a close collaborator in the G20,” is expected to deepen collaboration with India in areas like agriculture, energy, trade, technology and critical minerals. PM Modi is scheduled to meet President Javier Milei, with whom he held a prior meeting last year.‘Vital’ Brics Summit in BrazilThe Brazil leg of the trip includes participation in the Brics Summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 6–7, followed by a bilateral state visit to Brasília. “India is committed to BRICS as a vital platform for cooperation among emerging economies. Together, we strive for a more peaceful, equitable, just, democratic and balanced multipolar world order,” the Prime Minister said. His visit to Brasília- the first by an Indian Prime Minister in nearly six decades- will include talks with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on shared Global South priorities.‘Celebrating enduring solidarity’ in Namibia The tour concludes in Namibia, where PM Modi will meet President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah. Emphasising the “common history of struggle against colonialism” that binds the two nations, he said, “It will be a privilege to also address the Joint Session of Namibian Parliament as we celebrate our enduring solidarity and shared commitment for freedom and development.” The Prime Minister’s visit is being seen as a significant diplomatic push to reaffirm India’s leadership role in the Global South and expand its outreach in both Africa and Latin America.