Is Latin America Still 'Very Distant' as PM Modi Deepens Engagement with the Region?

Rio de Janeiro, July 7 (NationPress) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is embarking on a significant State Visit to Brazil, commencing with his arrival in Brasilia early Tuesday morning, India time. This visit marks a crucial step in enhancing the India-Brazil strategic partnership and is anticipated to inject fresh energy into India's increasing engagement with the region over the past 11 years.

Previously, PM Modi has visited Brazil on three occasions: first in July 2014, again in 2019 for the BRICS summit, and lastly in November of last year to participate in the G20 summit held in Rio de Janeiro.

This time, the Prime Minister will arrive in Brasilia following the two-day 17th BRICS Summit in Rio, where he engaged in multiple bilateral discussions with leaders from various Latin American nations as India broadens its global outreach.

Before his ongoing five-nation tour, PM Modi expressed optimism that his travels would strengthen India's friendships within the Global South, enhance partnerships across the Atlantic, and deepen collaborations on multilateral platforms like BRICS, the African Union, ECOWAS, and CARICOM.

In Trinidad and Tobago, a nation with which India shares deep historical, cultural, and people-to-people ties, PM Modi reaffirmed New Delhi's unwavering support for CARICOM to bolster Global South partnerships.

Notably, this marks PM Modi's second visit to the Caribbean in just eight months—his previous visit to Guyana occurred in November 2024—demonstrating India's commitment to strengthening relations with Caribbean nations.

Following his time in Port of Spain, PM Modi traveled to Buenos Aires, marking the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Argentina in 57 years, where he conversed with President Javier Milei and signed several mutually advantageous agreements across different sectors.

During the BRICS Summit in Rio, PM Modi also solidified India's connections with Latin American countries, engaging in crucial discussions with the Presidents of Uruguay, Bolivia, and Cuba on pressing issues affecting the Global South, such as health, pandemics, and climate change.

Last month, on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada, PM Modi met with Mexico's President, Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, to discuss priorities for the Global South.

The two leaders committed to expanding collaborations in trade, investment, startups, innovation, science and technology, and the automotive sector, along with promoting people-to-people exchanges.

During the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit in Georgetown last November, PM Modi emphasized India's role in amplifying the voices of Global South nations, reaffirming India's commitment as a trusted partner to Caribbean nations, which have been notably affected by recent global challenges.

Regional leaders have recognized India's emergence as the world's fifth-largest economy and its expanding influence globally.

In April, Chile's President Gabriel Boric Font visited India accompanied by a high-profile delegation, including ministers, parliament members, senior officials, business representatives, and influential Chileans engaged in the India-Chile cultural exchange.

Recently, Paraguay's President Pena Palacios also visited India, marking only the second visit by a Paraguayan President to the country.

“Whether viewed from Latin America or India, an economy of this scale is bound to bridge distances. This transformation is evident within India, showcasing advancements in digital delivery, renewed manufacturing interests, infrastructure initiatives, and a burgeoning startup culture. India is growing, and it will become more integrated into your lives than ever before,” stated External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar at the Latin America Business Forum in Panama City this April.