PM Modi Foreign Visit Highlights: PM Modi wraps up five-nation tour, leaves Italy for India

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi departs for India from Rome, Italy. This marks the conclusion of his five-nation visit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday highlighted the outcomes of his Italy visit after the Ministry of External Affairs shared a list of 15 agreements and initiatives finalised during the trip.

Reacting to the developments, PM said the new India-Italy "Special Strategic Partnership" would benefit not only both countries but "the entire humanity".

"A Special Strategic Partnership that will not only benefit our nations but also the entire humanity!" PM wrote on X.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he accepted the FAO Agricola Medal with "great humility" and dedicated the honour to India's farmers and food producers.

In a post on X, Modi thanked the Food and Agriculture Organisation for the recognition and said the award belonged to India's "Annadatas".

"I dedicate this honour to India's Annadatas…our food providers," PM Modi wrote. He said the recognition reflected the hard work of farmers, people linked to livestock and fisheries, agricultural scientists and innovators across the country.

The Prime Minister added that the honour also acknowledged India's "unwavering commitment to human welfare, food security and sustainable development".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi  said his discussions with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni were "excellent" and praised her commitment towards strengthening ties between India and Italy.

In a post on X, he said bilateral relations had made "significant progress" across sectors including trade, space and technology, adding that both countries had now elevated ties to a "Special Strategic Partnership".

The Prime Minister also said he and Meloni reviewed the progress of the India-Italy Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 and agreed on the need to further strengthen investments and economic cooperation. He described the proposed India-EU free trade agreement as a "historic opportunity" for boosting ties and said the two leaders also discussed digital infrastructure, connectivity, science and artificial intelligence.

MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Italy came at a time of "significant momentum" in bilateral ties between the two countries.

Speaking in Rome, George said Modi was visiting Italy at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and noted that it was the Indian Prime Minister's first bilateral visit to the country and his third overall trip to Italy.

He added that Meloni hosted a dinner for PM Modi during which both leaders held one-on-one discussions on bilateral relations as well as important regional and global developments.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said agriculture in India is deeply linked to culture, values and the country's spiritual connection with nature. Speaking at the FAO Agricola Medal conferment ceremony in Rome, Modi said farming in India was not viewed merely as crop production.

"In Indian culture, agriculture is not just the medium to grow crops. It has been given the status of deep and sacred ties between humans and Mother Earth," he said.

The Prime Minister added that agriculture remained central to India's way of life and cultural identity.

"In India, agriculture is the mainstream of life, it is an integral part of our culture, it is a reflection of our life values," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the FAO Agricola Medal to India's farmers, livestock rearers, fish workers and agricultural scientists after receiving the honour in Rome. Speaking after the award ceremony, PM Modi thanked the Food and Agriculture Organization and its Director-General Qu Dongyu for the recognition.

"This is an honour for not just me but an honour for the crores of farmers in India, livestock rearers, fish rearers, agriculture scientists and our workers," PM Modi said. He said the award also recognised India's commitment to human welfare, food security and sustainable development.

"I accept this medal with great humility and dedicate it to 'annadata' of India," the Prime Minister added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, in Rome. During the meeting, the UN agency also conferred the FAO Agricola Medal on PM Modi.

India and Italy on Wednesday exchanged several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during bilateral engagements in Rome.
 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India and Italy had decided to upgrade bilateral ties to a "Special Strategic Partnership", marking a major step in relations between the two countries.

"I am happy to announce that we are upgrading India-Italy relationship to Special Strategic Partnership," Modi said during a joint press statement with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome. The Prime Minister said the India-Italy Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 would provide a "practical and futuristic structure" to the partnership and added that both countries were moving ahead with its implementation in a time-bound manner.

"Trade between our countries is moving towards the 20 billion euros target. Over 800 Italian companies in India are contributing to India's growth story," he said.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni used a popular Hindi proverb in Hindi while praising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit and the growing relationship between India and Italy.

Speaking during a joint press statement in Rome, Meloni described Modi's visit as the beginning of "a new page" in ties between the two countries.

"This visit of yours is an honour for us. It opens a new page in the relations with our country," she said. Meloni then referred to the Indian word "parishram", meaning hard work, while speaking about the effort behind stronger bilateral ties.

"There is an Indian word which states that very well — parishram. It means hard work," she said. Quoting a popular Hindi saying in Hindi, Meloni added, "Parishram hi safalta ki kunji hai," before explaining that "hard work is the key to success". She said India and Italy were building their partnership through the same spirit of effort and cooperation.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday said India and Italy had discussed major global crises, including the wars in Ukraine and tensions involving Iran, during her talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rome.

Speaking at a joint press statement, Meloni said both countries supported efforts towards a "lasting and fair peace" in Ukraine.

"We discussed many of the complex scenarios that we are faced with. We talked about Ukraine, we talked about our commitment to achieve a lasting and fair peace," she said.

On Iran, Meloni said both sides hoped ongoing negotiations would continue and end positively. "As to the Iranian crisis, we exchanged our views with a joint hope that the peace negotiations will continue and reach a positive conclusion," she added.

"It is extremely important to have freedom of navigation in the Indo Pacific sector," Meloni said, adding that India and Italy shared the vision of a "free, inclusive and open Indo-Pacific" and would continue working together for peace and stability.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced that India and Italy would launch the "Italy-India Year of Culture and Tourism" in 2027 to deepen cultural ties between the two countries. Speaking during a joint press statement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Meloni said the initiative would help strengthen connections between the two nations’ historic cultures.

"We have decided to launch the Italy-India Year of Culture and Tourism for 2027, which is a unique opportunity to have our century-old cultures develop a dialogue and make them more and more connected," she said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India had remained in constant contact with Italy on global conflicts, including Ukraine and tensions in West Asia, while reiterating New Delhi's support for diplomatic solutions.

"We have been in constant contact regarding Ukraine, West Asia, and other tensions," he said.

"India's stance is clear that all problems should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India and Italy shared a common stand against terrorism and stressed the need for stronger action against terror financing networks. Speaking alongside Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, PM Modi said, "India and Italy agree that terrorism is a serious challenge to humanity."

He added that both countries had worked together to present "an important example" in tackling terror financing.

"India and Italy have given this clear message that responsible democracies do not merely condemn terrorism, but also take concrete steps to dismantle its financial networks," PM said.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said India and Italy were working to deepen cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including defence, energy, infrastructure and space. Speaking during a joint press statement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Meloni said both leaders had held extensive discussions on expanding ties between the two countries.

"Our aim is to enhance the complementarity between two countries in many sectors. We have broadly discussed them today as well as last night," she said.

Meloni said areas such as advanced manufacturing, infrastructure, energy, the space economy and defence remained key priorities for cooperation.

"Critical minerals, agro-industry, maritime transportation, tourism and culture are very important opportunities," she added. The Italian Prime Minister also said several important MoUs expected to be signed would help strengthen cooperation "in a wide spectrum of sectors".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday thanked Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for supporting the conclusion of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, saying both sides would work towards its early implementation to benefit businesses.

"I thank PM Meloni, for support in the conclusion of India-EU FTA. Together we will work on its early implementation to benefit business communities," PM Modi said.

He also highlighted technology and innovation as key pillars of the India-Italy partnership.

"Technology and innovation are engines of our partnership. There are infinite possibilities for our partnership in the areas of AI, Quantum, Civil Nuclear Energy and Space," PM said. The Prime Minister added that both countries were working on an India-Italy Innovation Centre aimed at connecting startups, research institutions and businesses.

PM Modi, in a joint press statement with Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, said: I thank PM Meloni for the grand welcome accorded to me and my delegation. Rome is known as the 'Eternal City' in the world. My Lok Sabha constituency in India, Kashi, is also known similarly. When two civilisations meet, then discussions are not limited to an agenda, but the depth of history, a glimpse of the future and the simplicity of friendship can be seen in it.

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, in the joint statement with PM Modi said: It is an honour to pleasure to greet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his delegation here in Rome on a day on which I truly believe is a historic day for the relations between our two nations. My friend, Narendra Modi has been leading India since 2014. But today, this is his first bilateral mission to Italy. The last visit of an Indian PM on a bilateral mission prior to this, dates back to 2000 - 26 years ago. Today, with this visit, not only are we bridging this gap but together, we have decided to revitalise our relations. This visit is the apex of a path that we have built together with determination, to strengthen the ties between ourselves all the way up to the highest level ever.

PM Modi on Wednesday met Italian President Sergio Mattarella in Rome and held discussions on expanding India-Italy cooperation in areas including trade, technology, clean energy and culture. In a post on X, PM Modi said that he and Italian President spoke about how sectors such as artificial intelligence, critical minerals, space, and nuclear energy can represent areas of collaboration for our countries.

PM Modi was accompanied by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and other senior diplomatic officials.

Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday targeted PM Modi over inflation, unemployment and rising fuel prices, using the now-viral Melody toffee gifted by PM Modi to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as a political jibe. In a post on social media, Kharge accused the BJP-led government of burdening citizens with economic hardship while focusing on PR exercise. 

PM ModI, in a post on X, said he had co-authored an op-ed with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the growing bilateral ties between the two nations.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni hold a meeting in Rome.

Giorgia Meloni, in a post on X, said the relationship between India and Italy had evolved from a cordial friendship to a special strategic partnership based on the values of freedom, democracy and a shared vision for the future.

"The relationship between India and Italy has now reached a decisive phase. In recent years, our ties have expanded with unprecedented momentum, evolving from a cordial friendship to a special strategic partnership founded on the values of freedom and democracy, as well as on a shared vision of the future," she said on X, while sharing of video of her and PM Modi meeting.

PM Modi being accorded the military guard of honour in Rome, on the second day of his visit to Italy. Italian PM Giorgia Meloni is also with him.

Shares of Parle Industries hit the upper circuit on Wednesday after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s viral “Melody” exchange with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni triggered confusion among retail investors. Read full story here

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his viral “Melody” exchange with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during his Italy visit. Addressing a gathering in Amethi, Rahul Gandhi said, “Modi-ji is feeding toffees to the PM of Italy.”

The Congress leader alleged that while people in the country were struggling with inflation and fuel-related concerns, the Prime Minister was busy making “reels” with Meloni.

“Inflation is rising in the country, there is a fuel crisis and 20 per cent oil has disappeared from the market, but Modi-ji is making reels by feeding toffees to Meloni,” Rahul Gandhi said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni a pack of Melody toffees, in what appeared to be a playful nod to the viral “#Melodi” expression widely used online for the two leaders. Read full story here

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed gratitude to the Indian community in Italy for the warm reception accorded to him in Rome during the final leg of his five-nation tour. In a post on X, PM Modi praised the Indian diaspora for its strong connection with India and its role in deepening ties between the two countries.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised a group of Italian artistes after attending a classical music performance during his visit to Rome. Sharing the moment on X, the PM wrote, "Indian music is getting very popular in Italy". He highlighted that five Italian artistes performed the "Hamsadhwani" during the community event. PM Modi complimented Valerio Bruni, Leo Vertunni, Simone Mattiello, Francesco Gherardi and Nicolo Mellochi, saying the performance reflected the growing popularity of Indian classical music in Italy.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared "a glimpse of Kashi in Rome," spotlighting Italian painter Giampaolo Tomassetti and his long association with Indian heritage. Modi said Tomassetti presented his artwork on Varanasi during their meeting in Rome. Praising his dedication, Modi noted the artist’s "passion for Indian culture goes back over four decades". He added that Tomassetti began in the 1980s as an illustrator for books on Vedic culture and later created 23 large paintings depicting the Mahabharata between 2008 and 2013.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday visited the iconic Colosseum in Rome along with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during his visit to Italy. The two leaders toured the historic monument after meeting in the Italian capital ahead of formal bilateral talks aimed at boosting India-Italy cooperation across key sectors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said he met Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni over dinner shortly after arriving in Rome for the final leg of his five-nation tour.

In a post on X, PM Modi said the two leaders exchanged views on a wide range of issues and expressed optimism about further strengthening India-Italy ties.

“Upon landing in Rome, had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Meloni over dinner followed by a visit to the iconic Colosseum. We exchanged perspectives on a wide range of subjects. Looking forward to our talks today, where we will continue the conversation on how to boost the India-Italy friendship,” the Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday received a warm reception from members of the Indian diaspora after arriving in Rome for the fifth and final leg of his five-nation tour. A large number of community members gathered to welcome the Prime Minister outside his hotel, where cultural performances were also organised to mark his arrival in the Italian capital.

PM Modi interacted with members of the Indian community and acknowledged greetings from supporters gathered at the venue. During the interaction, the Prime Minister also signed an autograph for a child who presented him with a portrait.

(ANI)

PM Modi arrived in Rome on an official visit aimed at strengthening strategic ties between India and Italy.

Sharing details of the visit, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the trip would mark a new phase in bilateral relations between the two countries.

“Scripting a new chapter in the India-Italy Strategic Partnership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Rome on an official visit to Italy,” Jaiswal posted on X.

He added that India and Italy share a longstanding and multifaceted partnership and said the visit is expected to give fresh momentum to bilateral cooperation.

Modi had earlier visited Italy in June 2024 to attend the G7 Summit.

Before arriving in Rome, the Prime Minister was in Oslo, where he participated in the 3rd India-Nordic Summit.

PM Modi was greeted with classical dance, cultural performances and instrumental music upon arriving at his hotel in Italy.

The performances were specially organised in honour of the Prime Minister as part of his visit to Italy, the final leg of his five-nation tour.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was accorded a warm reception on his arrival in Italy, where he was received at the airport by Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Antonio Tajani.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to hold high-level meetings with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Italian President Sergio Mattarella during his visit to Italy.

The discussions are expected to focus on expanding cooperation between the two countries across several strategic sectors, including trade, investment and defence manufacturing.
 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was presented with a painting showcasing the iconic ghats of Varanasi during his visit to Italy.
The artwork, reflecting the cultural and spiritual essence of Varanasi, was gifted to the Prime Minister as part of the welcome ceremony.
 

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Tuesday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Italy during his visit to the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had landed in Rome, Italy, where he is scheduled to meet President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. In a post on X, PM Modi said discussions would focus on strengthening India-Italy cooperation, particularly around the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC). He added that both sides would also review the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029. He further said he would visit the headquarters of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), reaffirming India's commitment to multilateralism and global food security.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday night arrived in Rome, Italy, on the final leg of his five-nation visit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has departed for Italy on the next leg of his five-nation tour following his visit to Norway.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday concluded his visit to Norway, describing the trip as "very fruitful" after holding talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and participating in the India-Nordic Summit. In a post on X, he said "important decisions were taken to deepen cooperation in many areas" during the summit. He also thanked the people and government of Norway for their "warmth and friendship".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said India would continue working closely with Nordic countries on trade, investment, sustainable growth, innovation, climate action and Arctic cooperation after concluding his visit to Norway. In a post on X, PM described the trip as "very fruitful" and reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening ties with the Nordic region.

MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday attended the 3rd India-Nordic Summit in Oslo, hosted by Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and joined by leaders from Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden. George added that Modi also held bilateral meetings with Nordic counterparts on the sidelines of the summit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India and the Nordic countries would continue supporting a rules-based global order amid rising global tensions and conflicts. Speaking after the 3rd India-Nordic Summit in Oslo, PM said both sides backed efforts for an early end to conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia and stressed the need for peace. He also called reforms of multilateral institutions "essential" and "urgent". On terrorism, Modi said India and the Nordic countries shared a clear and united position: "No Compromise, No Double Standards."

Iceland Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks on climate change and democracy during the summit. She said it was important to hear the leader of the world's largest democracy describe climate action as "something that we need to address for progress, not something that holds us back". Frostadóttir said many people fear the changes needed to tackle climate challenges, but added, "Here we're harnessing hope, and this is a message that needs to be heard."
 

Iceland Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir highlighted growing cooperation between India and Iceland in renewable energy and investment during the India-Nordic Summit in Oslo. Speaking at a joint press conference with Nordic leaders and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Frostadóttir said the two countries had "such a good story to tell". She said Iceland was happy to share its expertise in geothermal energy and renewables with India, while also seeing growing investments through recent trade agreements. Referring to Modi’s use of the word "Sambandh", she added, "People need more 'sambandh' today."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India and the Nordic countries are entering a "new golden age" in relations following recent trade and economic agreements. Speaking after the 3rd India-Nordic Summit in Oslo, PM said India had recently implemented the Trade and Economic Partnership with EFTA nations, including Norway and Iceland, from October 2025. He also referred to the India-EU Free Trade Agreement signed earlier this year, which includes Denmark, Finland and Sweden as partners. "With this ambitious trade agreement, we are going to initiate a new golden age for relations between India and the Nordic countries," PM Modi said.

Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen praised India's growing global role and called for deeper cooperation between India and Nordic countries in areas such as AI, green transition, defence and security. "We cannot say that India is a middle power. You are one of the biggest powers," she said. Frederiksen added that while Nordic countries may be small individually, together they become "a middle power". "Working together with one of the greatest powers on these very clear ideas and values, I think we can bring stability, prosperity and unity into a world that is changing rapidly," she said.

Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said democracies must work more closely together as the global order undergoes rapid change. Speaking at a joint press conference with Nordic leaders and Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the India-Nordic Summit in Oslo, Frederiksen said, "All of us standing here on the stage believe in a rules-based world order, and unfortunately, the old world order is changing rapidly, and it's not going in the right direction." She added, "Therefore it is even more important than before that partners who really believe in democracy actually work together."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said investment from Nordic countries into India has increased by around 200 per cent over the last decade. Addressing the joint statement after the India-Nordic Summit, PM said rising trade and investment have contributed positively to both India's growth and the economies of Nordic nations. He added that the expanding partnership has also helped create thousands of new jobs.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India's partnership with Nordic countries has made significant progress since the India-Nordic format was launched eight years ago. Speaking after the 3rd India-Nordic Summit in Oslo, PM said bilateral trade between India and Nordic nations had increased nearly four times over the past decade. He also described Nordic investment funds as important partners in India's economic growth story.
 

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said India and the Nordic countries also discussed ways to deepen trade and economic cooperation during the summit in Oslo. He noted that India now has free trade agreements with EFTA countries and said leaders held talks on security, supply chains and energy market disruptions caused by conflicts in Europe and the Middle East. Store said countries must "step up" and speak together on global issues, adding that the summit gave leaders an opportunity to unite around common positions.

At a joint press conference with PM Modi, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said the India-Nordic Summit reflected the need for stronger cooperation between democracies in an increasingly unpredictable world. Speaking at a joint press conference with Nordic leaders and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Oslo, Store said discussions focused on global security, economic cooperation and rising geopolitical challenges. He said the leaders also discussed support for international law, reforms in the rules-based global order, and the need for a "just and lasting peace" in Ukraine as well as diplomatic efforts to address the conflict in the Middle East.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said democracy, rule of law and a shared commitment to multilateralism make India and the Nordic countries "natural partners". Speaking at the joint statement after the 3rd India-Nordic Summit in Oslo, Modi said he was delighted to participate in the summit and thanked Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store for hosting the event. He also welcomed the Nordic leaders and highlighted the growing cooperation between India and the Nordic region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said he participated in the 3rd India-Nordic Summit in Oslo, describing it as a reflection of the growing depth and dynamism of India's partnership with the Nordic region. In a post on X, Modi said discussions during the summit focused on sustainability, innovation, clean energy, emerging technologies and strengthening cooperation for a peaceful and prosperous future.

He said India and the Nordic countries are united by shared democratic values, mutual trust and a common commitment to human-centric development.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the relationship between India and Finland after holding talks with the Prime Minister of Finland, Petteri Orpo.

"Delighted to meet the Prime Minister of Finland, Mr. Petteri Orpo. This year has witnessed extensive engagements as far as India and Finland are concerned. PM Orpo himself had come to India for the AI Impact Summit. Our meeting today is aimed at giving new energy to bilateral relations. We spoke of working together in futuristic sectors like 6G, AI, education, nuclear energy and more. We also discussed how to deepen linkages in climate change, circular economy, sustainable development and more," he said. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday hailed the India-Denmark friendship that has made 'remarkable progress' over the years. 

After holding talks with the Danish PM as part of his five-nation tour, Modi said, "Had a fruitful meeting with Mette Frederiksen in Oslo. The India-Denmark friendship has been making remarkable progress over recent years. Cooperation has expanded in sectors like water resources, clean energy, shipping and food processing. The coming years can see similar synergy in Fintech, industries, defence, innovation and more. Invited Danish pension funds to expand their investments in India. We are very confident that the India-EU Free Trade Agreement will have a major impact on both our economies." 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday appreciated the talks with Iceland's Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir during his five-nation foreign tour. 

"India deeply values its friendship with Iceland. We talked about ways to improve ties in areas such as clean energy, fisheries, sustainability, geothermal energy, carbon capture and storage and more. Iceland’s prowess in sectors relating to the Blue Economy is admirable. We are hopeful that the historic India-EFTA TEPA will give an impetus to trade and investment linkages as well," he wrote on X.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is presently holding a bilateral discussion with Denmark PM Mette Frederiksen.

In Oslo, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with Prime Minister of Finland, Petteri Orpo, focusing on strengthening India–Finland cooperation and expanding ties.

-PTI

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of remaining detached from the hardships facing ordinary people. Gandhi said Modi is warning citizens not to step outside while continuing his foreign tour. He alleged that the coming economic shock will severely hit the youth and common people of Uttar Pradesh, while industrialists like Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, along with PM Modi, would remain unaffected.

-Samarth Srivastava input

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his five-nation tour, raising fresh allegations over the Adani issue. In a post on X, Gandhi questioned whether Modi personally requested Norway to remove Gautam Adani from its pension fund blacklist.

BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya on Monday responded to Congress MP Rahul Gandhi over his criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not taking questions during a joint media briefing in Oslo. Malviya said the criticism was misplaced, noting that the Norwegian prime minister also did not take questions. In a post on X, he wrote, "The Norwegian Prime Minister also didn’t take any questions at the joint press briefing of the two leaders."

He added, "But the lunatic Congress ecosystem led by Rahul Gandhi is crowing over a delinquent journalist’s incoherent rant. One wonders if, like the journalist in question, the Congress leadership is also on the take of those who do not want to see a strong and powerful India".

During a press briefing in Oslo, MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George said India’s foreign policy is guided by two core principles: national welfare and global responsibility. He said ties with Norway reflect this approach, following talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Jonas Gahr Støre. George said, "We will do everything focussed on the welfare and security of India and people of India. Second point is, we will do everything with the objective of common global good".

-PTI

At a media briefing in Oslo, Foreign Secretary (West) Sibi George strongly defended India’s democratic institutions after a Norwegian journalist questioned the country’s record on press freedom, minority rights and human rights. Calling some reports by international NGOs “godforsaken” and “ignorant,” George said critics often judge India without understanding its scale and diversity. He highlighted India’s vibrant media landscape, noting hundreds of television channels and daily scrutiny. He also cited constitutional safeguards and universal voting rights for women since Independence, saying India’s democratic framework ensures protections and legal remedies for all citizens.

Read more here.

After bilateral talks with Norway's Jonas Gahr Støre in Oslo, India and Norway upgraded relations to a "green strategic partnership". Prime Minister Modi said, "I had fruitful conversations with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Oslo".

He added the partnership will boost cooperation in "clean energy, sustainable growth, the blue economy and green shipping". Both leaders also discussed expanding ties in innovation, research, education, health services and skills development, while welcoming Norway’s entry into the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Norway's Oslo today for the fourth leg of his five-nation tour. In the Norwegian capital, PM Modi is scheduled to attend the third India-Nordic Summit and hold bilateral talks with the leaders of Iceland, Finland and Denmark on the sidelines of the meet.