Modi Embarks on Historic Five-Nation Tour, Highlights BRICS Commitment and Global South Ties

New Delhi, July 2: Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed on Wednesday for a week-long, five-nation tour aimed at deepening India’s engagement with the Global South and reaffirming the country’s role in multilateral forums such as BRICS. The visit includes stops in Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia.

A major highlight of the trip will be the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro on July 6-7. “As a founding member, 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,” said Modi before his departure.

The BRICS grouping has expanded to include 10 member nations: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Indonesia, and the UAE. On the sidelines of the summit, Modi is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with several world leaders.

Modi’s visit to Brazil marks the first by an Indian Prime Minister in nearly six decades. He emphasized the opportunity to work closely with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on priorities for the Global South.

The Prime Minister’s tour began in Ghana, where he is set to meet President John Dramani Mahama and address Ghana’s Parliament. Discussions are expected to focus on boosting cooperation in investment, energy, health, security, and development. Modi described Ghana as a valued partner in the African Union and ECOWAS.

From West Africa, the PM will travel to Trinidad and Tobago, noting the deep cultural and historical ties between the two countries, especially as this year marks 180 years since the first Indians arrived there. Modi 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.

Next on the itinerary is Buenos Aires, where Modi will conduct the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Argentina in 57 years. He plans to meet President Javier Milei, with whom he previously held talks last year. Discussions are expected to deepen collaboration in agriculture, energy, trade, technology, and critical minerals, as Argentina is seen as a key economic partner in Latin America and a significant player in the G20.

Following the BRICS Summit, Modi will make a bilateral state visit to Brasília, further strengthening ties with Brazil.

The tour will conclude in Namibia, where Modi will meet President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and address a joint session of the Namibian Parliament. Highlighting the shared history of anti-colonial struggle between the two countries, Modi called it “a privilege” to celebrate the enduring solidarity and shared commitment to freedom and development.

Modi expressed confidence that his visits will “reinforce our bonds of friendship across the Global South, strengthen our partnerships on both sides of the Atlantic, and deepen engagements in multilateral platforms.”