Why in News :
Prime Minister Modi is undertaking one of his longest foreign visits (9 days, 5 countries: Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia) from July 2 to July 9, 2025.
The visit marks a significant push toward deepening India’s strategic, economic, and cultural footprint in the Global South—especially Latin America and Africa.
Key Country-wise Engagements
Ghana (July 2–3)
- First Indian PM visit in 30 years.
- Focus: Trade, defence, development, energy cooperation.
- India is the largest destination for Ghanaian exports (gold accounts for over 70%).
- Reaffirms India-Africa Forum Summit ties.
Trinidad & Tobago (July 3–4)
- 40–45% of Indian diaspora in Caribbean resides here.
- Visit marks 180 years of Indian arrival in T&T.
- First bilateral visit by an Indian PM since 1999.
- Economic relations stable (trade at $341.61 million in FY25).
- Strong people-to-people & diaspora diplomacy.
Argentina (July 4–5)
- First Indian PM visit in 57 years.
- Engagement with President Javier Milei to boost:
- Lithium cooperation (crucial for EVs, green energy),
- Defence, agriculture, mining, energy sectors.
- India = 5th-largest trading partner for Argentina in 2024.
Brazil (July 5–8)
- BRICS Leaders’ Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
- Bilateral State Visit in Brasilia with President Lula da Silva.
- Agenda: Trade, AI, climate change, health, multilateral reform, strategic partnership.
- Brazil is India’s largest trade partner in Latin America.
Namibia (July 9)
- First visit by PM Modi; third by any Indian PM.
- Strong focus on mining, diamond processing, and cheetah translocation collaboration.
- Trade grew from <$3 million (2000) to ~$600 million (2025).
- Symbolic tribute to Dr. Sam Nujoma and address to Namibia’s Parliament.
Strategic Significance
Reinvigorating South–South Cooperation
- Reinforces India’s commitment to equitable global governance.
- Strengthens India’s claim as a leader and voice of the Global South.
Diversifying Economic Ties
- Focus on critical minerals (lithium), energy, defence, and technology partnerships.
- Taps into untapped markets for trade and investment (esp. in Latin America and West Africa).
Diaspora and Cultural Diplomacy
- Mobilizes soft power through shared cultural linkages, especially in the Caribbean and Africa.
BRICS+ and Global Governance Reform
- Push for:
- Multilateralism reform,
- Regulating Artificial Intelligence (AI),
- Climate and health cooperation.
Challenges
- Need to convert symbolic visits into long-term institutionalised partnerships.
- Rising competition in these regions from China and Western nations.
- Managing diverse bilateral interests across varied political ideologies (e.g., Argentina’s Milei vs Brazil’s Lula).
Way Forward
- Create dedicated South–South trade and tech corridors.
- Invest in capacity building, digital infrastructure, and sustainable development projects.
- Institutionalize cultural and diaspora diplomacy through permanent cultural centers and missions.
| UPSC Relevance GS2 – International Relations: India’s South–South cooperation, Diaspora diplomacy, strategic partnerships GS3 – Economy: Trade diversification, mineral resources, green energy GS1 – Geography/Culture: Diaspora engagement, regional linkages Essay/IR: India’s leadership role in the Global South Mains Practice Questions Q. India has been positioning itself as a leader of the Global South. Critically evaluate the effectiveness of this approach in achieving foreign policy and developmental goals. (GS2/Essay) |