The Narendra Modi 2026 Europe tour refers to a multi-country visit by the Prime Minister of India to four European nations in May 2026. According to reports by Euronews and DW, the tour began in the Netherlands, with subsequent stops planned in Sweden, Norway and Italy.
The visit is part of India's continuing diplomatic outreach to European partners, covering trade, technology, climate cooperation and diaspora engagement. In The Hague, Modi met Dutch royals and addressed members of the Indian community, according to Euronews.
The tour comes amid broader efforts by New Delhi to deepen ties with individual European Union member states as well as with non-EU partners such as Norway, against the backdrop of ongoing negotiations on an India-EU trade agreement and India's expanding strategic engagement with Europe.
Overview
| Event | Narendra Modi's Europe tour |
|---|---|
| Period | May 2026 |
| Countries visited | Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Italy |
| First stop | The Netherlands |
| Notable engagements | Meeting with Dutch royals; address to Indian community in The Hague |
| Reported by | Euronews, DW |
Itinerary
Netherlands
The tour opened in the Netherlands, where Modi was received by members of the Dutch royal family. Reports indicated that he also addressed the Indian diaspora in The Hague, a city that hosts a sizeable Indian-origin population and several international institutions. The Netherlands is among India's significant trading partners in continental Europe and a notable source of foreign direct investment.
Sweden
Sweden was reported as the next stop on the itinerary. India and Sweden have engaged through mechanisms such as the India-Nordic summit format, with cooperation areas including innovation, clean technology and industrial manufacturing.
Norway
Norway was listed as a further destination. Bilateral cooperation between India and Norway has historically included maritime affairs, renewable energy, fisheries and polar research, alongside Norway's participation in Nordic-format engagements with India.
Italy
Italy was reported as the concluding leg of the tour. India and Italy have in recent years strengthened bilateral cooperation across defence, trade and connectivity, including in the framework of broader Mediterranean and Indo-Pacific initiatives.
Background
India's relationship with Europe has expanded across several tracks: bilateral ties with individual nations, engagement with the European Union as a bloc, and sub-regional formats such as the India-Nordic summit. European partners are key stakeholders for India in areas including high technology, green transition, pharmaceuticals, defence equipment and skilled migration pathways.
Trade negotiations between India and the European Union, alongside a separate track with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) — which includes Norway — have been a central feature of recent diplomatic exchanges. Diaspora engagement has also been a recurring element of Modi's overseas visits, with community addresses forming a regular part of his foreign tours.
The 2026 tour, as reported, continues this pattern by combining state-level meetings with public outreach to Indian-origin communities in Europe.
Diaspora engagement
The address to the Indian community in The Hague reflected a long-standing element of Modi's foreign visits, which have frequently included large public events for overseas Indians. Such gatherings are typically used to highlight bilateral ties, government initiatives and the role of the diaspora in fostering people-to-people links.
Bilateral context
Each of the four destinations represents a distinct strand of India's European engagement:
- Netherlands — a major European trade and investment partner with strong logistics and agri-tech links.
- Sweden — a partner in innovation, smart cities and industrial cooperation.
- Norway — engaged with India through EFTA trade arrangements and maritime cooperation.
- Italy — a Mediterranean partner with growing defence and connectivity ties.
Reception
According to Euronews and DW, the tour's opening leg in the Netherlands featured ceremonial elements including the meeting with Dutch royals. Specific outcomes from each leg of the visit were not detailed in the available source reports.
Related topics
- Narendra Modi
- Foreign relations of India
- India–European Union relations
- India–Netherlands relations
- India–Sweden relations
- India–Norway relations
- India–Italy relations
- Indian diaspora
- Ministry of External Affairs