Modi Goes Global: From Ghana to Greece, Bharat Leads the Global South

Lithium from Argentina, Diplomacy in Brazil, Defence in Greece—India Isn’t Playing Sidekick Anymore

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to launch an ambitious five-nation tour from 8 to 17 July 2025, spanning three continents and underscoring New Delhi’s expanding diplomatic footprint. The itinerary—Ghana, Argentina, Brazil, Suriname, and Greece—reads like a checklist of India’s new priorities: critical minerals, digital public goods, bio-fuel alliances, and maritime security. With the BRICS+ summit in Rio de Janeiro as the tour’s fulcrum, Modi aims to position India as the connector between the Global South and advanced economies, all while securing resources such as lithium and expanding India’s Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) model to African and Latin-American partners.

From inaugurating the Pan-African e-Network 2.0 in Accra to signing a lithium supply framework in Buenos Aires, every stop is calibrated to bolster India’s economic security and soft-power capital. Here is what to expect and why each capital matters.

Digital Bharat Reaches Africa, Lithium Lifeline from Latin America Begins

Accra, Ghana (8-9 July) – Modi’s Africa engagement kicks off with the launch of Pan-African e-Network 2.0, an India-funded initiative offering tele-medicine, tele-education, and fintech rails based on India’s DPI stack. MoUs covering pharma manufacturing, agri-tech startups, and solar mini-grids are on the docket, reflecting India’s development-partnership model. A large diaspora outreach at Accra’s Independence Square is expected to echo the “Vibrant Gujarat” feel but with Afro-Indian rhythms.

Buenos Aires, Argentina (10-11 July) – The marquee deliverable here is a lithium supply framework—critical as India accelerates its EV ambitions. Argentina’s Lithium Triangle reserves can diversify India’s battery supply chain away from China. Talks between ISRO and Argentina’s space agency CONAE will revive a dormant satellite-launch partnership, while a speech at the India–LATAM Business Forum will pitch India as a trusted technology and pharma partner in South America. Expect optics at the Plaza San Martín, underscoring freedom struggles that resonate with India’s own history.

BRICS+ to Bio-Fuels, Diaspora to Defence—Modi’s Tour Sends a Clear Message: Bharat Is Back

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (12-14 July) – At the BRICS+ Summit chaired by President Lula, Modi will push for reforms in global institutions, pitch the Global Bio-fuel Alliance, and showcase India’s DPI success stories. Bilateral talks may unlock expanded ethanol trade, vital for India’s green-energy roadmap. Modi’s keynote titled “Reforming Multilateralism” will likely call for a multipolar order that gives the Global South real voting power.

Paramaribo, Suriname (15 July) – Often overlooked, Suriname hosts a sizeable Indian-origin community. Modi will announce a credit line for solar micro-grids across the Caribbean and pay homage at the Indian Arrival Monument. This stop cements India’s cultural diplomacy while opening a gateway to CARICOM markets.

Athens, Greece (16-17 July) – The tour concludes with a Defence & Maritime Security Pact aimed at joint patrols and port-call logistics in the eastern Mediterranean—an area where India seeks a foothold to secure energy routes. Additional MoUs on pharma exports and a visit to the Acropolis with PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis will provide historical symbolism. Modi will also inaugurate a Statue of MK Gandhi in Athens, reinforcing civilizational links that transcend politics.