Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed on Saturday for a five-day tour of Nigeria, Brazil, and Guyana, with key engagements in each country aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and furthering global cooperation.
The first leg of Modi’s trip takes him to Nigeria, where he will engage with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on November 16-17. This marks Modi’s first visit to the West African nation, a partner with India in democratic values and pluralism. In his statement, Modi highlighted the importance of reinforcing India-Nigeria strategic ties and expressed his eagerness to meet with the Indian diaspora and friends from Nigeria who had sent him warm greetings in Hindi.
Following Nigeria, the Prime Minister will travel to Brazil to participate in the 19th G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro on November 18-19. Modi, as part of the G20 troika alongside Brazil and South Africa, emphasized the significance of the summit in continuing the legacy of India’s presidency last year, which had a strong focus on the Global South. “I look forward to meaningful discussions,” Modi said, adding that he hoped to build on India’s successful leadership in areas such as the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent G20 member. He also expressed a desire to discuss broader global issues under the theme “One Earth, One Family, One Future.”
Modi will be joined by other key global leaders at the summit, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden. The G20 summit will serve as a platform for discussing key global issues, including climate change, economic development, and global security.
The final leg of Modi’s journey will take him to Guyana from November 19-21 at the invitation of President Mohamed Irfaan Ali. This visit marks the first-ever trip by an Indian Prime Minister to the Caribbean nation in over 50 years. Modi expressed his enthusiasm for strengthening the bilateral relationship, which is deeply rooted in shared cultural heritage and values. He also plans to engage with Guyana’s Parliament and pay respects to one of the oldest Indian diaspora communities, who migrated to the region more than 185 years ago.
Throughout his visit, Modi aims to enhance diplomatic and economic relations with these nations, while also reinforcing India’s leadership in global multilateral forums like the G20.
