Prime Minsiter Modi will begin his four nation tour on 29 May. He will first visit Germany on for a bilateral visit. He will hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel and discuss ways to strengthen strategic relations between the two countries, especially via enhancing business ties. They are expected to hold talks on freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the growing threat of terrorism, Kashmir, education, vocational training, renewable energy and railways. They are also expected to conclude an agreement on defence procurement and Modi will be inaugurating the Indo-German business forum. Lastly talks on India’s bid to join the NSG and UNSC are also likely to feature.
Prime Minister Modi then be travelling to Spain on 31 May, where he will focus on cooperation in areas of infrastructure and energy.
On 1 June, Prime Minister Modi will be travelling to Russia on invitation of President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin. He will be the Guest of Honour at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern will also be attending the forum. The SPIEF, which will be also attended by thousands of business leaders from across the globe, will be an opportunity of Modi to invite investments to India.
On the sidelines of the forum Modi will be holding talks with Putin on strengthening bilateral relations, espeically in defence and nuclear cooperation. On June 1 Modi and Putin will jointly flag off a ceremonial motor rally from St. Petersburg in order to display the INSTC (International North South Transportation Corridor) route that will connect India to Russia. The route is set to link Mumbai to St. Petersburg via Iran.
The last nation Modi will visit will be France, from the 2-3 of June, where he will hold official talks with the President of France Emmanuel Macron, with the aim of enhancing strategic ties.