India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make an official state visit to Trinidad and Tobago in the first week of July, marking his first trip to the Caribbean nation since assuming office in 2014.
Modi, who previously visited Trinidad and Tobago in 2002 as part of a delegation attending the World Hindu Conference, returns this time as India’s longest-serving prime minister in decades. The upcoming visit will also be his first foreign engagement with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, who was elected on April 28, 2025.
In confirming the visit, Persad-Bissessar told the Express, “On behalf of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago I extended an invitation to Prime Minister Modi and we are pleased to announce that he will make a state visit to Trinidad and Tobago. He is expected to arrive in the first week of July. Several Memorandums of Understanding will be signed to strengthen bilateral relationships. There are ongoing discussions with our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Indian High Commissioner.”
According to a report by NewsX Live, Modi is scheduled to visit both Trinidad and Tobago and Argentina during his early July tour. The report described the trip as pivotal in enhancing India’s diplomatic reach, especially among smaller nations in the Global South. The visit is expected to bolster cooperation in trade, technology, and other key sectors.
Modi, who was sworn in for a third consecutive term as Prime Minister in June 2024, is expected to travel to Brazil shortly after, from July 5–8, to attend the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The BRICS bloc, which now includes 11 member states such as Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and several new additions like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, serves as a vital platform for countries seeking to promote South-South cooperation.
Modi was among the first international leaders to congratulate Persad-Bissessar on her recent electoral victory. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote:
“Heartiest congratulations @MPKamla on your victory in the elections. We cherish our historically close and familial ties with Trinidad and Tobago. I look forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our partnership for shared prosperity and well-being of our people.”
In November 2024, Modi met with former Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley on the sidelines of the 2nd India-CARICOM Summit held in Georgetown, Guyana. During that visit, he applauded Trinidad and Tobago’s adoption of India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI) and discussed areas of cooperation including security, health, agriculture, and digital transformation. The leaders also signed an MOU on food processing.
At the summit, Modi outlined seven pillars of cooperation, using the acronym “CARICOM” to frame India’s strategic outreach:
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C – Capacity Building: Offering 1,000 ITEC scholarships over five years and proposing a regional forensic centre.
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A – Agriculture and Food Security: Promoting climate-resilient crops like millets.
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R – Renewable Energy and Climate Change: Suggesting India could solar-power at least one government building per CARICOM nation.
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I – Innovation and Trade: Expanding India’s UPI system for faster, secure payments.
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C – Cricket and Culture: Emphasizing cricket as a cultural bridge.
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O – Ocean Economy and Maritime Security: Offering ferries and marine support to strengthen regional connectivity.
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M – Medicine and Healthcare: Proposing mobile hospitals, cancer equipment, drug-testing labs, and annual artificial limb donation programs.
The state visit by Prime Minister Modi signals a renewed phase in India–Trinidad and Tobago relations, with both nations poised to deepen cooperation in digital innovation, healthcare, and cultural exchange. It also marks a strong diplomatic statement from New Delhi about its commitment to engaging with Caribbean nations as critical partners on the world stage.
