PM Modi's 5-nation tour: UAE, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Italy from May 15
Synopsis
PM Modi's five-nation tour from 15–20 May is more than a diplomatic circuit — it is India's most concentrated European engagement in years, timed deliberately after the India-EU Free Trade Agreement. The Norway stop alone is historic: no Indian Prime Minister has visited Oslo in 43 years, and the India-Nordic Summit adds multilateral weight to what is otherwise a bilateral blitz.
Key Takeaways
PM Modi will visit UAE, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy from 15 to 20 May 2025 .
The Norway leg marks the first Indian PM visit to Oslo in 43 years and includes the third India-Nordic Summit .
Key focus areas include semiconductors , green hydrogen , Artificial Intelligence , defence , and resilient supply chains .
The tour follows the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement , lending it significant trade and investment context.
Modi will meet heads of state and government in all five nations, including Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed , King Willem-Alexander , King Harald V , and President Sergio Mattarella .
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake an official five-nation tour spanning the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy from 15 May to 20 May 2025, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Monday. The visit is aimed at deepening bilateral ties across trade, defence, clean energy, and emerging technologies, and comes on the heels of the recently concluded India-European Union Free Trade Agreement.
UAE: Energy and Strategic Partnership
The tour opens in the United Arab Emirates on 15 May, where Modi will meet President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Talks are expected to cover bilateral issues, energy cooperation, and steps to advance the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
Netherlands: Defence, Semiconductors and Water
On the second leg, Modi travels to the Netherlands from 15 to 17 May at the invitation of Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten. He will call on King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima and hold formal talks with Jetten. The MEA noted that the visit will build on high-level engagements across defence, security, innovation, green hydrogen, semiconductors, and a Strategic Partnership on Water.
Sweden: AI, Green Transition and Start-ups
Modi will travel to Gothenburg, Sweden, from 17 to 18 May at the invitation of Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Bilateral talks will cover the full spectrum of relations, with a focus on green transition, Artificial Intelligence, emerging technologies, start-ups, resilient supply chains, defence, space, climate action, and people-to-people ties, according to the MEA.
Norway: Historic First Visit in 43 Years
The fourth leg takes Modi to Norway from 18 to 19 May for the third India-Nordic Summit and bilateral engagements. This marks the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Norway in 43 years and Modi's first trip to the country. He will call on King Harald V and Queen Sonja, hold talks with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, and address the India-Norway Business and Research Summit alongside the Norwegian PM.
Italy: Capping the Tour with Meloni
In the final leg, Modi visits Italy from 19 to 20 May at the invitation of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. He will call on President Sergio Mattarella and hold bilateral talks with Meloni. The MEA specifically highlighted the visit's significance in light of the recently concluded India-EU Free Trade Agreement, stating it will "further deepen India's partnership with Europe across sectors, particularly trade and investment ties."
The five-nation tour underscores India's accelerating diplomatic engagement with both the Gulf and Europe, and the outcomes of each bilateral — particularly on semiconductors, green hydrogen, and AI — will be closely watched by industry and policymakers alike.
Point of View
Turning what could have been routine bilateral visits into a diplomatic consolidation exercise. The Norway stop is the most symbolically loaded: 43 years of absence from Oslo is a long gap for two democracies with converging interests in Arctic policy, clean energy, and maritime trade. The semiconductor and green hydrogen threads running through the Netherlands and Sweden legs also reflect India's supply-chain diversification push, which is gaining urgency as geopolitical fault lines redraw global trade. Whether these visits translate into binding commitments or remain at the level of joint statements will be the real measure of their worth.
NationPress
12 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries will PM Modi visit in May 2025?
PM Modi will visit the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy from 15 to 20 May 2025. The tour was announced by the Ministry of External Affairs on Monday, 11 May.
Why is the Norway visit historically significant?
Modi's visit to Norway will be the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 43 years, making it a landmark diplomatic moment. He will also attend the third India-Nordic Summit and address a joint India-Norway Business and Research Summit.
What will PM Modi discuss in the Netherlands?
In the Netherlands, Modi will hold talks with Prime Minister Rob Jetten and call on King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima. Key agenda items include defence, security, green hydrogen, semiconductors, and a Strategic Partnership on Water.
How does the India-EU Free Trade Agreement connect to this tour?
The MEA specifically cited the recently concluded India-EU Free Trade Agreement as a backdrop for the European legs of the visit, stating it will help deepen trade and investment ties between India and Europe.
What is the India-Nordic Summit?
The India-Nordic Summit is a multilateral diplomatic forum bringing together India and the Nordic nations. The third edition will be held in Norway during Modi's visit from 18 to 19 May 2025, alongside bilateral talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store.
