High-stakes diplomacy on cards this week; PM to embark on three-nation tour on Monday, Jaishankar leaves on multi-continent six-nation trip

In a major initiative to expand India’s global outreach amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a three-nation Indo-Pacific tour on Monday while External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar left on Sunday on a ten-day six-nation visit to the Gulf, the United States of America and Belgium.

With the world facing an uncertain situation, especially on the energy front following the West Asia crisis and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the PM will leave tomorrow morning on a week-long visit to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand to give a major push to India’s multifaceted relationship with these nations in the Indo-Pacific.

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The visit comes days after Modi hosted Sanae Takaichi in New Delhi for the India-Japan Summit, where the two leaders categorically stated that a free, prosperous and rules-based Indo-Pacific is their shared priority.

Cooperation in several key areas such as defence, maritime issues, trade, and supply chain resilience will also be high on the agenda during the PM’s visit. Senior Indian officials said the visit aims to deepen India’s ties with the three Indo-Pacific nations.

Briefing reporters on the visit, Rudrendra Tandon, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, said the PM will be in Indonesia from 6-8 July and Australia from 8-10 July before travelling to New Zealand for the last leg of his tour.

In Indonesia, PM Modi will hold bilateral talks with President Prabowo Subianto to build on maritime security, connectivity, and ongoing defence acquisition talks.

The itinerary in Australia includes meetings with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Sydney alongside a community outreach event in Melbourne.

The PM will participate in the third India-Australia Annual Summit process. The conversations will cover emerging areas of bilateral relations, particularly critical minerals, cyber security, supply chain resilience, emerging technologies and so on, the official said.

On the visit to New Zealand, Tandon said this will be the first visit by an Indian PM in 40 years. The last Indian PM to visit New Zealand was Rajiv Gandhi. Modi will hold discussions with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon to build on the recently signed Free Trade Agreement to boost bilateral trade.

The visit to Australia is especially important since both India and Australia are Quad members along with the United States and Japan and also cooperate in forums such as G20, East Asia Summit, Commonwealth and the Indian Ocean Rim Association. Australia is a significant source of lithium, cobalt and rare earth minerals—resources that are increasingly important for India’s electric mobility, semiconductors and renewable energy ambitions.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Jaishankar has left for the Gulf states of Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman. He will be in the Gulf until 10 July before leaving for New York to launch India’s official campaign for the 2028-29 UN Security Council tenure. He will then attend the 3rd India-EU Trade and Technology Council meeting and interact with his EU and Belgian counterparts in Brussels on 14-15 July before returning home.

“The visit will focus on enhancing our bilateral relations with the four countries and also provide an opportunity to exchange views on regional developments and issues of mutual interest,” the Ministry of External Affairs said.

The visit to the Gulf states will provide Jaishankar an opportunity to ascertain their views on the evolving situation in West Asia in the wake of a ceasefire between the US and Iran. Both Qatar and Oman played a significant role in bringing about the ceasefire.