How Did PM Modi Become the First Foreign Leader to Receive 'The Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago'?

Port of Spain, July 4 (NationPress) - Prime Minister Narendra Modi made history on Friday by becoming the first foreign leader to receive 'The Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago', the most prestigious civilian award of the Caribbean nation, during his brief visit to Port of Spain.

The award was presented to him by Christine Kangaloo, the President of Trinidad and Tobago.

Upon accepting the award, PM Modi expressed, "I am deeply thankful to you, your government, and your people for granting me this highest national recognition, the 'Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago'. This honour signifies the lasting and profound friendship between our two nations. I accept it on behalf of 1.4 billion Indians."

Previously, Kamala Persad Bissessar, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, praised PM Modi, stating that this honour acknowledges his global leadership, strong connections with the Indian diaspora, and humanitarian efforts during the Covid-19 pandemic.

This marks the 25th international award received by PM Modi, and the second accolade since Wednesday, when he was honoured with the 'Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana' by Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama in Accra, just before arriving in Trinidad.

Analysts assert that these awards illustrate PM Modi's unparalleled stature, as no Indian Prime Minister has had such a significant global impact, reinforcing his image as a committed global statesman dedicated to regional peace, development, and spiritual diplomacy.

A former diplomat commented, "For the first time, India's foreign policy is boldly 'India First' — clear, confident, and consistent. The world is not merely observing; it is recognizing and respecting this new India."

In June, Nikos Christodoulides, the President of Cyprus, also honored PM Modi with Cyprus's Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia.

This year, PM Modi has also received the highest civilian accolades from Mauritius and Sri Lanka.

In April, Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake awarded PM Modi the 'Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana', the highest civilian award for Heads of State and Government, recognizing his efforts to enhance bilateral relations.

The conferral of this award symbolizes shared destinies, spiritual kinship, and a mutual vision for progress based on respect and trust between the two countries.

In March, during the National Day celebrations in Port Louis, the President of Mauritius, Dharambeer Gokhool, awarded PM Modi the 'Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean' (GCSK), the highest civilian honour in Mauritius, marking the first time an Indian leader received this distinction.

PM Modi dedicated this award to the special friendship between India and Mauritius, as well as to the 1.4 billion people of India and their 1.3 million "brothers and sisters in Mauritius".

In December 2024, Kuwait honored PM Modi with 'The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer' for his outstanding achievements and efforts to fortify relations between the two nations.

This Order is granted to Heads of State, foreign Sovereigns, and distinguished individuals as a symbol of friendship.

It has previously been awarded to notable leaders such as Bill Clinton, Prince Charles, and George Bush, along with dignitaries like Queen Elizabeth and Prince Muhammad bin Salman.

Before this, PM Modi received Guyana's highest civilian honour, 'The Order of Excellence', awarded by President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, acknowledging his visionary statesmanship and dedication to developing nations.

During the India-CARICOM Summit in Guyana, Dominica also honored PM Modi with its highest national award, the 'Dominica Award of Honour', recognizing his crucial support during the Covid-19 pandemic and commitment to bolstering India-Dominica relations.

Nigeria presented PM Modi with the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) during his first official visit in November 2024, making him the first foreign leader to receive this award since 1969.

Prior to Kuwait, Guyana, Dominica, and Nigeria, PM Modi had received multiple highest civilian accolades from various nations, including Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Palestine, UAE, Russia, Maldives, Bahrain, the US, Bhutan, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Egypt, France, and Greece.

Apart from these significant civilian awards, PM Modi has been the recipient of numerous prestigious accolades from esteemed global organizations.

In 2018, he was awarded the Seoul Peace Prize for his contributions to global harmony and world peace by the Seoul Peace Prize Cultural Foundation.

In the same year, the United Nations recognized PM Modi with its highest environmental award, the Champions of The Earth Award, for his impactful environmental leadership.

In 2019, he received the inaugural Philip Kotler Presidential Award for demonstrating exceptional national leadership.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation recognized PM Modi with the Global Goalkeeper Award in 2019 for transforming India’s Swachh Bharat Abhiyan into a nationwide cleanliness movement.

In 2021, he was honored with the Global Energy and Environment Leadership Award from Cambridge Energy Research Associates (CERA) for his leadership in global energy and environmental sustainability.