Indian PM Modi Lands in Brazil for BRICS Summit and Historic State Visit

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Brazil on Saturday evening, marking the fourth leg of his five-nation diplomatic tour. During the visit, he will participate in the 17th BRICS Summit and undertake a state visit to Brasília at the invitation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

Image Source: PM NaMo on X

Modi was greeted with a ceremonial reception at Galeão International Airport upon arrival. Posting on social media platform X, the Prime Minister noted, “Landed in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil where I will take part in the BRICS Summit and later go to their capital, Brasília, for a state visit on the invitation of President Lula. Hoping for a productive round of meetings and interactions during this visit.”

The visit is significant on multiple fronts. It will be the first standalone bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Brazil in nearly 60 years, and comes at a time when the BRICS bloc is undergoing a major expansion.

BRICS—comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—has recently welcomed five new members: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, signaling its evolution as a more inclusive platform for the Global South.

Ahead of the summit scheduled for July 6–7 in Rio de Janeiro, Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s commitment to the BRICS grouping as a vital forum for emerging economies to shape a multipolar and equitable global order. 

“Together, we strive for a more peaceful, equitable, just, democratic and balanced multipolar world,” Modi said in his departure note.

According to Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, Modi will also engage in bilateral meetings with several world leaders on the sidelines of the summit.

Modi's arrival in Brazil follows his recent stop in Argentina, where he held comprehensive talks with President Javier Milei and laid out plans to strengthen cooperation in key sectors including defence, critical minerals, pharmaceuticals, energy, and mining.

The Prime Minister has already visited Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Argentina during his current diplomatic outreach. His final stop will be Namibia, rounding out a tour designed to deepen India’s partnerships across Africa, Latin America, and the broader Global South.