Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday received messages of congratulations and praise from several world leaders as he prepared to become India’s longest-serving elected Prime Minister, a milestone that drew recognition from countries across Asia, the Pacific and the Caribbean.
According to a government release, leaders from around the world lauded Modi’s leadership, credited him with steering India’s economic and social transformation, and acknowledged his role in amplifying the concerns and aspirations of the Global South on international platforms.
Among the first to convey his greetings was Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Disanayaka, who, in a letter dated June 8, extended the congratulations of the Sri Lankan government and its people.
”This milestone is a testament not only to your years in office, but also to the trust and confidence that the people of the world’s largest democracy have repeatedly placed in your leadership,” Disanayaka wrote.
The Sri Lankan President praised India’s development trajectory under Modi’s leadership and said his vision had inspired countries beyond India’s borders, including Sri Lanka. He also recalled India’s support during Sri Lanka’s economic crisis in 2022 and highlighted the close partnership shared by the two neighbouring nations.
The release noted that Modi’s visit to Sri Lanka in April 2025 reinforced India’s Neighbourhood First policy and further strengthened bilateral ties. During the visit, he was conferred the Mitra Vibhushana, Sri Lanka’s highest civilian honour awarded to a foreign dignitary.
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape also paid tribute to Modi in a personal video message, describing him as “a role model and an example of leadership.”
”Lifting over 200 million people out of poverty to a good life today is an amazing feat,” Marape said, while expressing his country’s desire to deepen cooperation and friendship with India.
The government release recalled Modi’s landmark visit to Papua New Guinea in May 2023 for the Third Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC-III) Summit, the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Pacific nation. The visit was widely seen as a significant step in strengthening India’s engagement with Pacific Island countries and advancing its outreach to the Global South.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of Trinidad and Tobago also congratulated Modi, describing India under his leadership as an increasingly influential voice in global affairs.
”Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India has evolved as a leading voice on global matters,” she said.
Persad-Bissessar highlighted Modi’s rise from humble beginnings to leading a nation of more than 1.4 billion people across three terms and commended India’s progress in areas such as economic growth, infrastructure development, foreign policy and social advancement.
The release further noted that Modi’s visit to Trinidad and Tobago in July 2025 marked the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Caribbean nation in 26 years. The visit coincided with the 180th anniversary of the arrival of Indian immigrants in Trinidad and Tobago and was regarded as an important milestone in strengthening historic and cultural ties.
Modi is set to surpass the tenure record of India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, becoming the country’s longest-serving elected Prime Minister. The achievement comes as the BJP-led government marks 12 years in office and highlights its record in economic development, welfare delivery, infrastructure expansion and India’s growing global influence.
The congratulatory messages from world leaders reflected the international recognition Modi has garnered during his years in office and underscored India’s expanding diplomatic footprint across regions ranging from South Asia and the Pacific to the Caribbean, the government release said.