Modi Begins Five-Nation Tour, Says BRICS Can Help Build Balanced World Order

 Modi Begins Five-Nation Tour, Says BRICS Can Help Build Balanced World Order

Receives warm welcome in Ghana; to attend BRICS summit in Brazil; state honours lined up in Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago

Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off his five-nation tour on Wednesday, landing in Ghana for the first leg of a trip aimed at strengthening India’s engagement with the Global South. He was received warmly by Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama in Accra, where the two leaders are set to hold talks focused on deepening bilateral cooperation.

Before departing, Modi underlined the significance of the journey, stating that it would boost India’s partnerships with countries across Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. A key highlight of the visit will be his participation in the BRICS summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where discussions are expected to focus on shaping a more just and multipolar global order.

“India sees BRICS as an essential platform for collaboration among emerging economies. We are committed to building a world that is peaceful, equitable, democratic, and balanced,” Modi said in his departure statement.

Besides Ghana and Brazil, Modi’s itinerary includes stops in Trinidad and Tobago, Argentina, and Namibia. His tour will conclude on July 9.

During his stay in Ghana, Modi will address the country’s Parliament and engage in discussions on expanding cooperation in investment, energy, health, capacity building, and development partnerships. Talks are also expected around vaccine manufacturing, with Ghana aiming to become a key vaccine production hub in Africa.

As a mark of respect, Ghana will bestow its highest civilian honour, the Companion of the Order of the Star of Ghana, on Prime Minister Modi. Past recipients of the award include global leaders like Jacques Chirac, King Mohammed VI of Morocco, and President Lula da Silva of Brazil.

Modi’s next stop will be Trinidad and Tobago, where he will be hosted by Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar. Highlighting India’s deep cultural ties with the Caribbean nation, Modi said the visit is a chance to “rejuvenate the special bonds of ancestry and kinship that unite us.” He will also receive the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the country’s highest state honour.

After attending the BRICS summit in Rio, Modi will travel to Brasilia for a state visit, and on his way back to India, he will stop in Namibia. There, he is scheduled to meet President Netumbo Nandi Ndaitwah and address a Joint Session of Namibia’s Parliament.