Modi’s Five-Nation Odyssey: Strengthening the Global South and Multipolar Alliances

Modi’s global tour strengthens ties with the Global South, reaffirms BRICS commitment, and champions a just multipolar world order.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious five-nation tour from July 2 to July 9 marks a significant milestone in India’s proactive foreign policy, geared toward reinvigorating South-South cooperation and reinforcing India’s voice in multipolar global governance. His itinerary—spanning Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia—highlights India’s strategic outreach to Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, regions often peripheral in global diplomacy but pivotal to India’s geopolitical vision of a balanced world order.

At the heart of this tour is the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro. India’s commitment to BRICS as a forum for emerging economies remains steadfast, particularly as China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin skip the summit this year. Modi’s presence symbolizes continuity, resilience, and a diplomatic pivot aimed at positioning India as a stable, constructive global leader in a fractured geopolitical climate. His emphasis on a just, equitable, and democratic international system reflects India’s long-standing advocacy for reforming global institutions to better represent developing nations.

The visit begins in Ghana, an anchor of West African democracy and a prominent player in the African Union and ECOWAS. India’s engagement with Ghana spans decades of political goodwill, developmental partnerships, and a shared post-colonial identity. Modi’s speech at the Ghanaian Parliament is poised to underline these shared legacies, while promising deeper cooperation in energy, investment, healthcare, and capacity-building—sectors vital to both nations’ growth.

Trinidad and Tobago, with its strong Indian diaspora and cultural kinship, is the next stop. Modi’s outreach here is not only symbolic but strategic—reconnecting with a nation where Indians arrived 180 years ago, fostering bonds of ancestry and shared heritage. Meetings with President Christine Carla Kangaloo and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar aim to deepen diplomatic, educational, and economic ties between the two democracies.

Argentina marks a diplomatic revival. With no Indian prime minister visiting Buenos Aires in 57 years, this visit signals a reset in bilateral relations. As a G20 member and a country rich in critical minerals and agricultural potential, Argentina aligns well with India’s resource security goals. Modi’s dialogue with President Javier Milei is expected to explore collaborative efforts in technology, energy, trade, and tourism—sectors offering strong synergies.

The BRICS summit in Brazil represents the geopolitical fulcrum of this tour. With the absence of Xi and Putin, Modi’s role gains prominence. As a founding member, India is poised to steer discussions toward a development-centric and inclusive global order. Moreover, Modi’s state visit to Brasilia—the first in six decades—reaffirms India’s strategic interest in Latin America’s largest democracy. Engagements with President Lula da Silva are expected to focus on multilateral reforms, trade facilitation, and joint climate action.

Finally, the Namibian leg of the tour pays tribute to a country that, like India, fought colonialism and now shares common developmental aspirations. Addressing Namibia’s Parliament and meeting President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Modi is expected to outline a forward-looking roadmap centered on cooperation in energy, wildlife conservation, and governance.

Modi’s five-nation tour is more than symbolic diplomacy. It is a deliberate recalibration of India’s foreign policy—focusing on inclusivity, development, and solidarity with the Global South. As India positions itself as a pivotal power in the emerging world order, such engagements underscore its intent to not merely participate in global discourse, but shape it.