In July 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarked on an eight-day, five-nation tour from July 2 to 9, visiting Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia, marking his longest diplomatic trip since taking office in 2014. This historic journey, highlighted by his participation in the 17th BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, underscores India’s strategic push to strengthen ties with the Global South—developing nations in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Modi’s visits, blending bilateral talks, diaspora engagement, and multilateral cooperation, reflect India’s ambition to lead as a voice for the Global South, fostering economic, cultural, and strategic partnerships.

A Strategic Outreach to Africa and the Caribbean

Modi’s tour began in Ghana (July 2–3), the first Indian PM visit in over 30 years. He addressed the Ghanaian Parliament, held talks with President John Mahama, and received the Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana, the nation’s highest civilian honor, for his global leadership and India’s COVID-19 aid. Trade, valued at $3 billion, and defense cooperation were key focuses, with plans to double trade in five years. In Trinidad and Tobago (July 3–4), Modi, honored with The Order of the Republic, celebrated 180 years of Indian diaspora ties, addressing Parliament and meeting President Christine Kangaloo and Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, both of Indian descent. Trade, at $341.61 million in 2024–25, and renewable energy partnerships were emphasized.

Strengthening Latin American Ties

In Argentina (July 4–5), the first bilateral Indian PM visit in 57 years, Modi met President Javier Milei to discuss agriculture, critical minerals like lithium, and energy, building on their G20 collaboration. In Brazil, Modi attended the BRICS Summit (July 6–7) and held bilateral talks with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in Brasilia, the first such visit in six decades. With $12.2 billion in trade, discussions focused on defense, renewable energy, and expanding the India-MERCOSUR trade agreement, reinforcing Global South priorities like climate finance and AI governance.

Namibia and the Global South Vision

The tour concluded in Namibia (July 9), where Modi met President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah and addressed Parliament, honoring Namibia’s decolonization icon Sam Nujoma. The visit, the third by an Indian PM, focused on pharmaceuticals, digital payments, and critical minerals, leveraging Namibia’s uranium and lithium reserves for India’s clean energy goals. Modi’s emphasis on shared anti-colonial histories underscored India’s commitment to long-term partnerships.

India’s Leadership in the Global South

Modi’s tour aligns with India’s broader Global South advocacy, seen in initiatives like the Voice of Global South Summit and the DAKSHIN Centre of Excellence, launched in 2023. India’s push for African Union’s G20 membership in 2023 and its ‘MAHASAGAR’ vision for Indian Ocean states reflect a proactive stance against China’s influence, like its ‘String of Pearls’ strategy. 

Prime Minister Modi’s five-nation tour cements India’s role as a Global South leader, fostering trade, cultural ties, and strategic alliances. By engaging with African, Caribbean, and Latin American nations, India challenges global power dynamics, promoting a multipolar world through BRICS and regional platforms like ECOWAS and CARICOM. As India prepares to chair BRICS in 2026, Modi’s diplomacy signals a bold, inclusive vision for the Global South.

-By Manoj H