From May 15 to 20, the prime minister will visit key powers across West Asia and Europe. The underlying message is India is no longer content with symbolism; it’s looking to strengthen partnerships
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s five-nation visit to the UAE, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy from May 15-20, 2026, underlines the growing sophistication of Indian diplomacy at a time when the international system is undergoing profound structural churn. With geopolitical rivalries sharpening, supply chains fragmenting, and energy markets remaining volatile, New Delhi is seeking to consolidate partnerships that can simultaneously serve its economic transformation and strategic autonomy.
At one level, the visit is about economic statecraft. India’s external engagement today is increasingly driven by the recognition that domestic growth ambitions cannot be separated from global economic integration. The outreach to Europe and the Gulf reflects New Delhi’s effort to position itself as a credible manufacturing, technology, and investment hub amid the reconfiguration of global supply chains.
Recent agreements such as the India-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations gaining momentum and the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement have already created a favourable backdrop for deeper commercial engagement.
As the world navigates the twin challenge of energy insecurity and green transition, India is attempting to diversify both its suppliers and technological partnerships.
Equally significant is the energy dimension of the tour. As the world navigates the twin challenge of energy insecurity and green transition, India is attempting to diversify both its suppliers and technological partnerships. Cooperation on renewables, green hydrogen, and clean technologies figures prominently in discussions across the Gulf and Nordic regions. This is particularly important at a moment when tensions in West Asia continue to cast uncertainty over global oil markets.
The visit also highlights India’s growing emphasis on emerging technologies and innovation ecosystems. Semiconductors, artificial intelligence, resilient supply chains, defence technologies, and startup collaborations have become central pillars of India’s external partnerships. This marks a notable evolution in Indian foreign policy: from a traditional focus on political solidarity to a far more transactional and capability-oriented engagement with major economies.
Strategically, the tour reinforces India’s multi-alignment approach. Rather than viewing Europe and the Gulf through competing geopolitical lenses, New Delhi is deepening ties with both simultaneously. This reflects a pragmatic recognition that India’s rise will depend on its ability to cultivate diverse partnerships without becoming constrained by bloc politics.
The UAE leg of the visit remains particularly consequential. Modi’s meeting with President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan builds on a relationship that has acquired remarkable strategic depth over the last decade. The UAE today is not merely an energy supplier for India; it has emerged as a critical economic and geopolitical partner. Trade, investment flows, fintech cooperation, and diaspora welfare remain central pillars of the relationship. Coming amid shifts in West Asian geopolitics and evolving energy calculations in the Gulf, the visit is also likely to focus on regional stability and long-term economic interdependence.
In the Netherlands, India’s engagement reflects the increasing importance of Europe’s technological and logistical ecosystems. This partnership is expected to deepen cooperation in semiconductors, water management, and innovation. The Netherlands has steadily emerged as one of India’s most important investment gateways into Europe, and the emphasis on advanced technologies demonstrates the changing character of bilateral ties.
Modi’s interaction with the European Round Table for Industry alongside Ursula von der Leyen also signals Europe’s recognition of India as an indispensable economic and strategic partner in an era of uncertainty.
Sweden represents another critical node in India’s outreach to Europe’s innovation-driven economies. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson’s invitation reflects Stockholm’s growing interest in partnering with India on green transition technologies, AI, defence manufacturing, and resilient industrial supply chains. Modi’s interaction with the European Round Table for Industry alongside Ursula von der Leyen also signals Europe’s recognition of India as an indispensable economic and strategic partner in an era of uncertainty.
Norway is perhaps the most symbolically significant stop. Modi’s first visit to the country and the first by an Indian prime minister in over four decades, points to New Delhi’s expanding engagement with the Nordic region. Bilateral meetings alongside participation in the 3rd India-Nordic Summit, are expected to broaden cooperation in clean technologies, the blue economy, Arctic governance, defence, and space. The Nordic region is increasingly viewed in New Delhi not only as a source of capital and technology, but also as a strategic partner in shaping emerging global governance frameworks.
The Italy leg of the visit seeks to sustain the momentum generated in bilateral ties following Modi’s outreach during the 2024 G7 Summit. Engagements with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella are expected to focus on implementing the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025–2029. Defence cooperation, clean energy partnerships, scientific collaboration, and investment ties are becoming increasingly important pillars of the India-Italy relationship, particularly as Europe recalibrates its strategic and economic priorities.
Taken together, the visit demonstrates how Indian foreign policy is adapting to a rapidly changing world order. New Delhi is no longer content with symbolic diplomacy; it is seeking tangible gains in technology access, energy resilience, investment flows, and strategic influence. At a time when major powers are struggling to navigate geopolitical fragmentation, India is attempting to leverage its growing economic weight and political flexibility to emerge as a pivotal actor in an increasingly multipolar world.
This commentary originally appeared in Moneycontrol.
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Professor Harsh V. Pant is Vice President at Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi. He is a Professor of International Relations with King's India Institute at ...
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