Argentina's Ambassador to India, Mariano Caucino, on Thursday, 17 September 2026, conveyed his country's warm birthday wishes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who turns 76 today, calling him 'one of the great leaders of the world today.' The envoy's remarks underscored the increasingly warm trajectory of India-Argentina bilateral relations.

Ambassador's Birthday Message

'Our congratulations, our best wishes to the Honourable Prime Minister on his birthday,' Ambassador Caucino said. 'On behalf of the government and the people of Argentina, our desire is for the government of India to continue this journey of success and progress — and in the name of the Prime Minister, also to the entire Indian people, to the Indian Republic, the largest country in the world in terms of population, for the success that you have been achieving and you are doing great.'

Caucino attributed Modi's global stature to his 25 years of continuous public service — first as Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014, and subsequently as Prime Minister since 26 May 2014, now in his third consecutive term. Modi was born on 17 September 1950 in Vadnagar, Gujarat, and is currently India's longest-serving elected Prime Minister.

India-Argentina Ties on an Upswing

Describing the bilateral relationship as being in 'a very positive stage,' Ambassador Caucino noted that India has become Argentina's fifth or sixth largest trade partner, depending on the month, reflecting a sharp rise in economic engagement. He attributed this growth to shared values — democracy and respect for human dignity — alongside a convergence of strategic national interests observed over the past decade.

'This relationship is increasing so much based on mutual benefit for the two countries,' he said, adding that Argentina is keen to continue expanding ties with India across multiple domains.

Modi's Argentina Visit: A Historic First in 57 Years

Ambassador Caucino expressed particular gratitude for Prime Minister Modi's official visit to Argentina in July last year, which marked the first bilateral trip by an Indian Prime Minister to Argentina in 57 years. During that visit, Modi held wide-ranging talks with President Javier Milei, with both leaders agreeing to diversify two-way trade and deepen cooperation in defence, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, energy, and mining.

Notably, Argentina became a strategic partner of India in 2019, and the two nations celebrated 75 years of diplomatic relations last year. The envoy said Argentina is 'extremely happy' with the relationship and sees it as 'called to be very, very important for India and for Argentina.'

25 Years in Public Life

This October will mark 25 years of Modi's continuous stint in public office. Ambassador Caucino pointed to this milestone as evidence of the Prime Minister's accumulated experience and political staying power. 'He has been in power for a quarter of a century, first at the local level in Gujarat and for the last 12 or 13 years in the national government,' he noted, reiterating that Modi's track record makes him a leader of global consequence.

With India-Argentina ties growing steadily and a landmark Prime Ministerial visit already on the books, both nations appear poised to further cement their partnership in the years ahead.