Prime Minister Modi's Diplomatic Outreach to Middle East and Africa
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a significant four-day diplomatic tour from December 15 to 18, 2025, visiting Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman. The visit, announced on December 11, 2025, underscores India's commitment to strengthening its strategic presence and deepening bilateral relations across West Asia and Africa. The tour is expected to focus on boosting trade, investment, defense ties, and fostering regional stability.
First Leg: Jordan – Celebrating 75 Years of Ties
The Prime Minister's itinerary begins in Jordan, where he will be from December 15 to 16, at the invitation of King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein. During his stay, PM Modi is scheduled to meet King Abdullah II to review the full spectrum of relations between India and Jordan and exchange perspectives on regional issues. This visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations, providing an opportunity to strengthen bilateral engagement and explore new avenues of collaboration for mutual growth and prosperity. India is currently Jordan's fourth largest trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching US$2.8 billion in 2023-24.
Ethiopia: A Maiden Visit to the Horn of Africa
From Jordan, Prime Minister Modi will travel to Ethiopia for a state visit from December 16 to 17, marking his first visit to the East African nation. He will hold wide-ranging discussions with Ethiopian Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed Ali on all aspects of India-Ethiopia bilateral ties. As partners in the Global South, the visit aims to reaffirm the shared commitment of both nations to advance close ties of friendship and bilateral cooperation, with a focus on development cooperation, agriculture, digital public infrastructure, capacity building, and investment opportunities for Indian businesses.
Oman: Deepening a Strategic Partnership and Trade Ties
The final leg of the tour will take Prime Minister Modi to Oman from December 17 to 18, at the invitation of Sultan Haitham bin Tarik. This will be PM Modi's second visit to the Sultanate. The visit commemorates 70 years of diplomatic relations between India and Oman, which share a comprehensive strategic partnership rooted in centuries-old bonds of friendship, trade linkages, and strong people-to-people ties. Both sides are expected to comprehensively review their bilateral partnership, covering areas such as trade, investment, energy, defense, security, technology, agriculture, and culture, as well as exchanging views on regional and global issues. A significant outcome anticipated from this visit is the formal announcement and signing of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which was cleared by Oman's Shura Council and is expected to substantially boost bilateral trade and investment. Oman is India's third-largest export destination among Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) nations, with bilateral trade reaching $10.61 billion in the financial year 2024-2025.
5 Comments
Michelangelo
Strategic partnerships in diverse regions are exactly what India needs. Forward-thinking!
KittyKat
Boosting trade with these nations will bring huge economic benefits. Great diplomacy!
Habibi
Such tours definitely raise India's profile on the world stage and foster goodwill. Still, the challenge lies in consistently maintaining these relationships and ensuring that the initial diplomatic momentum leads to sustained cooperation beyond the headlines.
Muchacho
Expanding trade and investment is always a positive step for economic growth. Yet, we must also carefully consider the terms of agreements like CEPA to ensure they truly benefit India's industries and labor force in the long run.
Comandante
Excellent move! Expanding India's global footprint is crucial for our future.