NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a six-day visit to five nations—the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy—starting Friday, aiming to further strengthen India's bilateral relations amid ongoing global geopolitical changes.
First Leg: UAE
PM Modi's initial destination is the UAE, where he will meet President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The discussions are expected to advance the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership and exchange perspectives on the West Asia conflict. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the leaders will deliberate on bilateral issues, especially energy cooperation, along with regional and international matters of mutual interest. The visit is also intended to promote the substantial trade and investment linkages between the two countries. The UAE stands as India's third-largest trade partner and seventh-largest source of cumulative investment over the past 25 years. With a large Indian community of over 4.5 million residing in the UAE, their welfare will also be a key topic of discussion.
Second Leg: Netherlands
In the second phase of his journey, PM Modi will visit the Netherlands from May 15 to 17. This marks his second trip to the country, following his 2017 visit. The prime minister will meet King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, and hold talks with Prime Minister Rob Jetten. The MEA highlighted that the visit will build on high-level engagements and close cooperation across sectors such as defence, security, innovation, green hydrogen, semiconductors, and a strategic partnership on water. The Netherlands is one of India's largest trade destinations in Europe, with bilateral trade worth $27.8 billion in 2024-25. It is also India's fourth-largest investor, with cumulative foreign direct investment of $55.6 billion.
Third Leg: Sweden
From the Netherlands, PM Modi will travel to Sweden at the invitation of Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson for a two-day trip from May 17 to 18. Modi previously visited Sweden in 2018 for the first India-Nordic Summit. He is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with PM Kristersson to review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations and explore new avenues for cooperation, particularly to enhance bilateral trade, which reached $7.75 billion in 2025. The discussions will focus on boosting ties in green transition, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, startups, resilient supply chains, defence, space, climate action, and people-to-people connections. Additionally, both prime ministers will address the European Round Table for Industry, a leading pan-European business leaders forum, alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Fourth Leg: Norway
In the fourth leg, PM Modi will be in Norway from May 18 to 19 to attend the third India-Nordic Summit and hold bilateral talks with Norwegian leadership. This will be Modi's first visit to Norway and the first by an Indian prime minister in 43 years. He will call on King Harald V and Queen Sonja and hold talks with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. Modi will also address the India-Norway Business and Research Summit alongside the Norwegian Prime Minister. The MEA noted that the visit will assess progress in India-Norway relations and explore ways to strengthen them, focusing on trade and investment, leveraging the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, as well as clean and green technology and the blue economy. The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) includes Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The visit aims to boost bilateral trade, which stood at around $2.73 billion in 2024, and investments by Norway's Government Pension Fund (GPFG) of nearly $28 billion in the Indian capital market. The third India-Nordic Summit will take place in Oslo on May 19, with participation from Modi and his counterparts from Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden. The summit is expected to build on previous summits in Stockholm (2018) and Copenhagen (2022), imparting a more strategic dimension to India's relationship with Nordic countries. Focus areas include technology and innovation, green transition and renewable energy, sustainability, blue economy, defence, space, and the Arctic.
Final Leg: Italy
In the final leg, PM Modi will undertake an official visit to Italy from May 19 to 20 at the invitation of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Modi last visited Italy in June 2024 for the G7 Summit. During this visit, he will call on President Sergio Mattarella and hold talks with PM Meloni. The visit occurs against a backdrop of strong bilateral momentum, with both sides actively implementing the joint strategic action plan 2025-2029—a comprehensive road map for cooperation across various sectors. India-Italy bilateral trade reached $16.77 billion in 2025. The focus of Modi's trip to Italy is likely to strengthen ties in investment, defence and security, clean energy, innovation, and science and technology. The MEA stated that the prime minister's upcoming visit will further deepen India's partnership with Europe across sectors, particularly trade and investment ties in light of the recently concluded India-EU free trade agreement.
