Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a wave of congratulations from global leaders on Thursday, 11 June, as he crossed the milestone of becoming India's longest-serving elected Prime Minister in the history of modern India. Leaders from the UAE, New Zealand, Taiwan, and Japan were among those extending warm wishes, reflecting the breadth of India's diplomatic relationships under his tenure.

UAE President Leads the Tributes

UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan posted a personal message on X, describing Modi as his friend and congratulating him on 'recording the longest continuous term as an elected head of government in the history of modern India.' The UAE President expressed confidence that bilateral ties will deepen further under the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries. He noted that UAE-India relations have undergone a 'qualitative transformation in recent years' through joint efforts for the growth and prosperity of both peoples.

New Zealand PM Highlights Free Trade Agreement

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also posted on X, congratulating Modi and pointing to a tangible diplomatic outcome — the India-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA). 'It has been a great pleasure to work with you to deliver the New Zealand-India Free Trade Agreement, and I look forward to all our two countries can do together in the years ahead,' Luxon wrote. The FTA reference underscores the practical diplomatic gains that have accompanied Modi's extended tenure.

Taiwan and Japan Add Their Voices

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te called the milestone a reflection of 'the confidence of the Indian people' in Modi's leadership, adding that Taiwan would continue to strengthen its partnership with India. Meanwhile, former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida — now serving as President of the Japan-India Association — congratulated Modi on surpassing 4,000 days in office as Prime Minister. 'I wish you even greater success in the future. I look forward to meeting you again soon,' Kishida wrote on X.

What the Milestone Signals

Modi's achievement of the longest continuous elected term in modern Indian history marks a significant political moment. This comes amid an active phase of Indian foreign policy, with bilateral partnerships deepening across the Middle East, Indo-Pacific, and Southeast Asia. Notably, the congratulatory messages from leaders spanning the UAE, New Zealand, Taiwan, and Japan illustrate the geographic diversity of India's strategic engagements. The milestone adds diplomatic weight to ongoing negotiations and partnerships that Modi's government has cultivated over more than a decade in power.

As global attention turns to India's role in shaping multilateral frameworks, the outpouring of goodwill from world leaders is expected to reinforce New Delhi's standing on the international stage in the months ahead.