Modi set for 5-nation Africa & Latin America visit in July; will be 1st PM to visit Ghana since Rao
The five-nation visit coincides with the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit, which is being hosted in Rio de Janeiro on 6-7 July. Modi is likely to travel to Brasília, the Brazilian capital city, for a bilateral meeting with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
A source familiar with the matter said that the Prime Minister's visit is set to begin with a visit to Ghana, followed by the visit to three countries in South America and the Caribbean, before ending in Namibia.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set for a five-nation visit likely beginning 2 July, which will include Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, Brazil and Namibia, ThePrint has learnt.
'The focus of the visit is strengthening India's ties with Africa, as well as with the largest economies in South America. There is a strong Indian diaspora connection with Trinidad and Tobago,' the source said with regards to the visit.
The source added that with Ghana, there are long-standing ties, and a key area for talks will be the development partnership. Argentina and Brazil are two of the largest economies in South America. Modi met with Presidents Lula and Javier Milei of Argentina on the margins of the G20 leaders' summit last year hosted by Brazil.
Cooperation between India and Namibia has grown in recent years, especially with the Cheetah reintroduction project. In 2022, Prime Minister Modi personally released cheetahs translocated from Namibia at Kuno in Madhya Pradesh—the first-of-its-kind intercontinental translocation of the carnivore species globally.
Ties between India and Trinidad and Tobago goes back almost two centuries, when the first ship carrying Indian indentured labourers landed on the shores of Trinidad on 30 May, 1845. Today the Indian community, specifically persons of Indian origin, make up roughly 40 percent of the total population of the Caribbean country today.
Also Read: 'Hope Pakistan will stand with Iran,' says Iranian diplomat, urges India to condemn Israeli aggression
First visits to Ghana, Namibia and T&T
Modi's visits to Ghana, Namibia and Trinidad and Tobago, will be his first. The last Indian Prime Minister to visit Accra was Narasimha Rao in November 1995. President Pranab Mukherjee did a state visit to Namibia in 2016, however, no Indian Prime Minister has visited the African nation yet.
India had been one of the earliest nations to raise the question over the independence of Namibia at the United Nations in 1946. The Southwest Africa's People Organisation (SWAPO), which led Namibia's independence movement, opened its first foreign mission in India in 1986. After Windhoek won its independence in 1990, India upgraded its mission in Namibia to that of a High Commission.
The last visit to Port of Spain by an Indian PM was by Manmohan Singh in 2009. The President of Trinidad and Tobago Christine Carla Kangaloo virtually addressed India's Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas earlier this year. Kangaloo was slated to travel to Bhubaneshwar, but was unable to do so.
With Brazil and Argentina, India maintains a strategic partnership. Brazil and India are founding members of BRICS and have maintained a strong partnership across a number of areas, including supporting their respective bids for permanent membership to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
Modi last visited Argentina in 2018 for the G20 leaders' summit in November 2018. Milei, the ultraconservative President, assumed power in 2023 and has attempted to resuscitate its economy and rein in its inflation, pushing for closer trade with the US.
While Modi's attendance at the BRICS summit will see a number of bilateral meetings with various leaders, the one meeting which is not expected is with President Xi Jinping of China. The Chinese President is unlikely to attend the summit, according to reports.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
Also Read: Carney is repairing what Trudeau left damaged. India and Canada are now on a path to reset ties
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
23 minutes ago
- Indian Express
How Zohran Mamdani turned his Hinge match into a political strategy for Gen Z voters
When a political leader casually mentions meeting their spouse via an app-assisted meet-cute, it catches your attention. When they go on to say, 'There is still hope in those dating apps,' it screams #relatable. Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate for New York's mayoral elections, an Internet sensation and the chosen Gen Z messiah, is proof that a politician's love life doesn't need to be a scandal or a secret. The 33-year-old Indian-American got one step closer to being the next mayor of NYC by winning the Democratic primary election on June 24 against his main challenger, and party veteran, Andrew Cuomo. His campaign strategy so far points to a fundamental shift in what it takes for younger generations to feel the sparks between them and their representatives. Mamdani shared that he met his partner, Syrian-American artist Rama Duwaji, on Hinge during a podcast interview. In another social media post with Indian comedian Kaneez Surka, Mamdani made modern-day romance (or the lack of it) an electoral matter. Surka rather cheekily asks Mamdani, 'New Yorkers want to know how are you going to help single people find love.' Mamdani reiterated how he met his partner, and added, 'The love of your life may currently be too stressed about whether they can afford the most expensive city in the US to find you. Affordability is about romance!' The answer hit more than just a campaign check box. It spoke to a generation which has just begun venturing into the political arena. A 2023 survey found that one-third of Gen Z voters wished they had known more about the candidates running in the 2022 US midterm elections, compared to 21 per cent of Millennials and 11 per cent of those from Generation X. A lot has already been written about Mamdani's earnest, no-holds-barred social media clips. The boomers may sneer at his 'flippant' campaign style, but the youngsters were hooked. Mamdani calls his approach the 'politics of no translation', meaning direct communication without intermediaries. As he explained to The Guardian: 'We believe in a politics of no translation, one that is both direct to the struggles of working people's lives and also delivered directly.' For decades, campaigns of largely older sections of political leaders operated through carefully controlled information flows: press releases and heavily media-trained public appearances. Personal details were either completely off-limits or structured to serve narratives. Politicians spoke about their families in terms that revealed nothing genuinely candid. Mamdani broke this mould. He has owned up to his immigrant story (he moved to New York when he was seven), cringed at his rap past as 'Mr Cardamom' and even used a mango lassi analogy to explain the electoral process to his desi voters. From Deewar edits and Karz dialogues to a reel making fun of himself for awkward hand-waving in videos, Mamdani is a man after the Gen Z heart. When Mamdani shared how he navigated (and successfully at that) the awkward realities of modern-day romance, he validated an entire generation's lived experiences. It is also a nod to a crucial demographic. Most dating app users are in their late 20s and early 30s, which overlaps almost perfectly with the age group now becoming the most politically active. A 2023 article on 'TikTok's influence over Generation Z's Political Behavior' in the Journal of Social Media in Society demonstrates that social media can be an important instigator of political participation, depending on how it is used. Mamdani's approach taps into this reality with an awareness that voters who meet partners online, build careers through LinkedIn, and organise communities via social media seek leaders operating in the same digital ecosystem. It's also a strategic recognition of the 'chronically online' Gen Z's tendency to form parasocial relationships with Internet icons, now including politicians. The generational disconnect isn't unique to New York City. In India, Parliament has been getting older significantly over time. The average age of elected representatives rose from 46.5 years in 1952 to 55.6 years in 2024. This growing gap explains the lack of youth participation both as leaders and voters. When enamoured young Indians comment, 'My mayor (I'm from India)' or 'I live in New Delhi. Can I still vote for him?' on Mamdani's posts on social media, they express a desire for political leaders who understand their reality. These voters are drawn to someone speaking their language, acknowledging the digital-first 'normal' we inhabit. The 'window' of possibilities Mamdani's Hinge story suggests that the 'Overton Window of Political Possibility', a model based on how ideas in society change over time and influence politics, has shifted. What could once be put away as 'too personal' for politics is now validating and even relatable. It points to a need to acknowledge that younger voters' 'normal' experiences include digital-mediated relationships and social media-driven community building. For information-hungry voters, the trust built by 'keeping it real' has the potential to extend credibility to policy discussions. Now, voters who believe the Democratic nominee is open enough to be honest about his dating life are more likely to listen keenly to his political platform about rent freezes, free city buses, and public childcare. When communication across the board is not conventionally packaged, complex policy stances feel accessible and urgent. Mamdani's success offers a blueprint for leaders to allow themselves to be real people with real experiences, even if that means a perfect 'swiped right' story. A generation growing up online demands leaders who meet voters where they are rather than where age-old political playbooks suggest they should be. Vibha B Madhava is a sub-editor at the news desk for She is interested in writing about gender, culture and politics of ableism. Having specialised in digital journalism, she is keen to explore various forms of interactive, multimedia storytelling. Apart from that, she also likes to experiment with social media. Qualification, Degrees/other achievements: Bachelor's degree in Media and Communication from Manipal Institute of Communication, Manipal Academy of Higher Education. PG Diploma in Integrated Multimedia Journalism from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. With The Indian Express, this is Vibha's first stint in pursuing journalism in a full-time capacity. Previous internship experience: Deccan Herald, Bengaluru; The News Minute, Bengaluru; The Mojo Story; Radio Indigo 91.9 and Fever FM 94.3 (Hyderabad) You can find her on Twitter as @VibhaBMadhava , on LinkedIn (Vibha B Madhava), or write to her at ... Read More
Time of India
25 minutes ago
- Time of India
'Not offering Iran anything': Donald Trump refuses to talk with Tehran; attacks Obama-era policy
US President Donald Trump US President Donald Trump said that he is "not talking or giving anything" to Tehran after the deputy foreign minister has put a condition on any future diplomatic and nuclear talks with America. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, "Tell phony Democrat Senator Chris Coons that I am not offering Iran ANYTHING, unlike Obama, who paid them $Billions under the stupid 'road to a Nuclear Weapon JCPOA (which would now be expired!), nor am I even talking to them since we totally OBLITERATED their Nuclear Facilities." This came after Tehran's deputy foreign minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said the US must rule out any further strikes on Iran if it wants to resume diplomatic talks. He revealed to BBC that the Trump administration communicated via intermediaries about resuming negotiations this week. However, he noted that they failed to clarify their stance regarding potential attacks during the discussion period. Discussions between the US and Iran concerning Iran's nuclear programme were ongoing when Israel conducted strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and military installations earlier this month, prompting Iran to launch missile counterstrikes. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like ¿Padece una enfermedad renal crónica (ERC)? Trialbee Más información Undo The US entered the conflict directly on June 21 when it conducted bombing operations against three Iranian nuclear facilities. Earlier, a CNN report came that the Trump administration in recent days has explored possible economic incentives in return for the Iranian regime halting uranium enrichment. Iran would also be allowed to receive assistance from regional countries to help it build the civilian nuclear programme, granting Tehran access to as much as the reported $30 billion. However, Trump refuted the claims and called it a fake and hoax news. He said, "Who in the FAKE NEWS MEDIA is the SleazeBag saying that 'President Trump wants to give Iran $30 billion to build non-military Nuclear facilities.' Never heard of this ridiculous idea." "It's just another HOAX put out by the Fake News in order to demean. These people are SICK!!!," the MAGA leader added.
News18
26 minutes ago
- News18
Centre To Launch Public Outreach On Indus Waters Treaty Suspension, Highlight Gains For India
Sources indicate the government intends to communicate directly with citizens, particularly in north India, where the potential for increased use of river water is being explored. In a significant policy move, the central government is set to launch a comprehensive public outreach campaign to explain the rationale behind putting the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance. This initiative aims to increase public awareness of the strategic and developmental benefits India stands to gain from suspending the decades-old agreement. Sources indicate that the government intends to communicate directly with citizens, particularly in northern Indian states, where the potential for increased use of river water is being explored. The outreach will focus on how the suspension of the treaty could enable India to exercise its rightful control over water resources and rechannel them for domestic agricultural and developmental use. The campaign will be spearheaded by senior Union ministers, including Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil, and Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav. These ministers will travel to key regions and engage with local communities in simple, accessible language to explain the government's stance, the reasoning behind the treaty's suspension, and the future roadmap. The larger objective, officials say, is to develop a long-term water management strategy that allows for optimal use of Indus river waters within India. Plans are underway to facilitate the movement of water from Jammu & Kashmir to Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan – states that are poised to benefit significantly from improved irrigation and water availability. As part of this effort, an extensive public awareness and engagement campaign will be rolled out in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. Ministers are expected to personally visit multiple districts and hold interactions with stakeholders, including farmers, local officials, and civil society groups, to ensure the message is effectively conveyed. This move reflects the government's intent to align national water security with geopolitical strategy, while also addressing growing domestic water demands. In the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had reiterated that 'trade and terror, water and blood, bullets and dialogue cannot go together." India has since accelerated work on strategic water infrastructure linked to the Indus river system. Among the key initiatives is a 130-kilometre canal designed to link the Beas River to the Ganga Canal, with a proposed extension to the Yamuna River. The project spans nearly 200 kilometres and includes a 12-kilometre tunnel, potentially enabling Yamuna water to reach Gangasagar. States such as Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan are projected to benefit from the initiative. The government has stated that the work is advancing rapidly and is expected to be completed within two to three years. A Detailed Project Report (DPR) is also in preparation. Sources suggest the suspension of the treaty could significantly affect Pakistan's rabi crops, with the kharif season remaining relatively unaffected. Beyond agriculture, the disruption could impact daily life, potentially leading to a water availability crisis. Pakistan has reportedly approached the World Bank to mediate in the matter. However, the World Bank has thus far declined to intervene in India's internal decision to suspend the treaty. India has emphasised the need to revisit and renegotiate the treaty to reflect 21st-century realities. The original treaty, crafted in the 1950s and 60s, is increasingly seen as outdated due to changing hydrological patterns, glacial melt, population growth, and the need for sustainable energy and water management. Despite India's push for modernisation, Pakistan has continued to resist renegotiation – a stance that, according to Indian officials, itself contravenes the treaty's provisions. Following the Pahalgam terror attack, India had announced a range of diplomatic and strategic responses, including placing the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance. First Published: June 30, 2025, 14:13 IST
