Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Argentina, marking first bilateral visit by an Indian PM in 57 years

Buenos Aires: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached Buenos Aires for a two-day official visit, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister in 57 years to undertake a bilateral trip to Argentina.

Upon his arrival at the Ezeiza International Airport on Friday evening, Modi received a ceremonial welcome, underlining the relevance of the visit. This marks Modi’s second time in Argentina as prime minister—the first being in 2018 for the G20 Summit—but it is the first standalone bilateral visit by an Indian head of government since 1967.
 

During his stay, the Prime Minister is scheduled to hold comprehensive discussions with President Javier Milei aimed at strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries. The talks are expected to focus on a wide spectrum of sectors, including defence, agriculture, critical minerals, oil and gas, renewable energy, trade and investment.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, "The bilateral visit of the Prime Minister will further deepen the multifaceted strategic partnership between India and Argentina."

In a statement issued before his departure, Modi described Argentina as “a key economic partner in Latin America and a close collaborator in the G20,” adding, “We will focus on advancing our mutually beneficial cooperation, including in the areas of agriculture, critical minerals, energy, trade, tourism, technology, and investment.”

Argentina is the third stop on Modi’s ongoing five-nation tour. He arrived here after concluding a two-day visit to Trinidad and Tobago, where six bilateral agreements were signed. During the visit, Modi was also conferred with ‘The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago’—the country’s highest civilian honour—becoming the first foreign leader to receive the award.

Following his engagements in Argentina, the Prime Minister will head to Brazil to attend the 17th BRICS Summit, followed by a state visit. The final leg of his tour will take him to Namibia.