New Delhi, May 11 — Facing turbulence in global energy markets, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a fast-paced five-nation tour from May 15–20, visiting the UAE, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy. The trip is being framed by officials as a mission to shore up India’s energy security while advancing trade, investment and strategic partnerships.
The itinerary opens in Abu Dhabi on May 15. With the UAE’s recent exit from OPEC+, New Delhi is treating bilateral energy engagement as a top priority. PM Modi will hold talks with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to review energy cooperation, regional and international issues, and ways to deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that spans politics, culture, commerce and people-to-people ties. The visit also aims to strengthen trade and investment links; the UAE is India’s third-largest trade partner and a major source of investment, and hosts a diaspora of over 4.5 million Indians whose welfare will also be on the agenda.
From Abu Dhabi, the Prime Minister travels to the Netherlands (May 15–17) at the invitation of Prime Minister Rob Jetten. This will be Modi’s second official visit to the Netherlands since 2017. He is scheduled to call on Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima and hold talks with PM Jetten. The visit is expected to build on strong bilateral cooperation across defence, security, innovation, green hydrogen, semiconductors and a Strategic Partnership on Water. The Netherlands ranks among India’s largest European trade partners (USD 27.8 billion in 2024–25) and is a major investor (cumulative FDI USD 55.6 billion).
On May 17–18, Modi travels to Gothenburg, Sweden, to meet Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. The visit — following Modi’s earlier participation in the 2018 India‑Nordic Summit — will review bilateral ties and explore cooperation in green transition, AI and emerging technologies, startups, resilient supply chains, defence, space and climate action. Bilateral trade reached USD 7.75 billion in 2025, and cumulative Swedish FDI into India stands at USD 2.825 billion (2000–2025). Modi and the Swedish PM will also address the European Round Table for Industry alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The tour’s Nordic centerpiece is the 3rd India‑Nordic Summit in Oslo. Modi will make his first-ever visit to Norway (May 18–19) — the first Indian prime ministerial visit there in 43 years — calling on Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja and holding talks with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. He will address the India‑Norway Business and Research Summit with the Norwegian PM. Bilateral trade with Norway stood at around USD 2.73 billion in 2024, and Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG) has nearly USD 28 billion invested in Indian markets. The India‑Nordic Summit on May 19 will bring together leaders from Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden to deepen ties in technology and innovation, renewable energy and green transition, the blue economy, Arctic cooperation, defence and space. The summit builds on meetings in Stockholm (2018) and Copenhagen (2022) and is expected to boost India‑Nordic trade (USD 19 billion in 2024) and investment links, and help shape resilient supply chains in the wake of India‑EU and India‑EFTA trade agreements.
The final stop is Rome (May 19–20) for talks with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and a call on President Sergio Mattarella. India and Italy aim to accelerate negotiations on the India‑EU Free Trade Agreement and expand defence co‑production. Bilateral trade reached about USD 16.77 billion in 2025, and cumulative Italian FDI into India totals roughly USD 3.66 billion (April 2000–September 2025).
As Modi departs, officials and markets will be watching whether the intensive diplomacy can help stabilise energy supplies and prices, while reinforcing India’s role as one of the world’s fastest-growing major economies.
(Report sourced from a syndicated feed; published as received.)
