Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a five-nation visit from May 15 to 20, covering the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy. The tour is being described as a high-stakes diplomatic mission focused on energy, trade, and emerging technologies. This is one of the most significant foreign visits of PM Modi in 2026 so far.
Background – Why This Visit Matters Now
The visit comes at a critical juncture as the escalating conflict in West Asia and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have sent shockwaves through global energy markets. India’s fuel supply chains have come under increasing pressure. With rising oil prices straining the country’s foreign exchange reserves, the Modi government is treating this diplomatic tour as a top national priority.
The trip follows Modi urging a series of measures, including fuel conservation, fewer imports and gold purchases, as well as reduced travel, as a surge in energy prices takes a toll on the country’s foreign exchange buffers.
PM Modi Foreign Visit Today – Full Schedule May 15–20, 2026
Stop 1 – UAE (May 15)
The tour begins with a high-priority stopover in Abu Dhabi. The UAE recently exited OPEC+, making direct bilateral energy ties more vital than ever. PM Modi will pay an official visit to the United Arab Emirates on May 15, where he will meet the President of the UAE, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The two leaders will hold discussions on strengthening bilateral relations and advance the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Notably, UAE remains India’s third largest trade partner and its seventh largest source of investment. Besides, over 4.5 million Indians stay there.
Stop 2 – Netherlands (May 15–17)
Prime Minister’s visit to the Netherlands will build on the momentum of high-level engagements and close cooperation spanning diverse sectors, including defence, security, innovation, green hydrogen, semiconductors and a Strategic Partnership on Water.
India has long been keen on buying lithograph machines, used in the production of semiconductors and produced by the Dutch firm ASML. Modi’s visit to the Netherlands is expected to see outcomes in semiconductors, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing sectors. The Netherlands is also India’s fourth-largest investor in Europe.
Stop 3 – Sweden (May 17–18)
At the invitation of the Prime Minister of Sweden, Ulf Kristersson, Prime Minister Modi will travel on 17–18 May 2026 to Gothenburg, Sweden. This is a major stop in PM Modi’s upcoming foreign visits 2026 list. PM Modi will hold bilateral talks with PM Kristersson to review the entire gamut of bilateral relations and explore new avenues of cooperation to enhance bilateral trade, which has reached USD 7.75 billion in 2025, as well as collaboration in green transition, AI, emerging technologies, startups, resilient supply chains, defence, space, climate action and people-to-people ties.
H3: Stop 4 – Norway (May 18–19)
PM Modi will be in Norway from May 18 to 19 for the 3rd India-Nordic Summit and bilateral engagements. This will be his first visit to the Nordic country. Additionally, this will be the first time in 43 years when an Indian prime minister visits Norway.
The summit will focus on green hydrogen, Arctic cooperation, and the blue economy. The Summit will impart a more strategic dimension to India’s relationship with the Nordic countries, especially in technology and innovation, green transition and renewable energy, sustainability, blue economy, defence, space and the Arctic.
Stop 5 – Italy (May 19–20)
Modi will finish his five-nation tour with a bilateral visit to Italy between 19 and 20 May. The Italy leg is expected to focus on trade, defence cooperation, and the recently concluded India-EU Free Trade Agreement. Italy is a key EU partner and this meeting is expected to consolidate India’s growing presence in Europe.
Recent Foreign Visit of PM Modi – 2025–2026 List
Here is a quick reference to the PM Modi foreign visits list for 2025 and early 2026:
PM Modi’s recent visits include Israel (February 25–26, 2026), Malaysia (February 7–8, 2026), Jordan, Ethiopia, and Oman (December 15–18, 2025), South Africa (November 21–23, 2025), Bhutan (November 11–12, 2025), Japan and China (August 28 – September 1, 2025), United Kingdom and Maldives (July 23–26, 2025), Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil and Namibia (July 2–9, 2025), Cyprus, Canada and Croatia (June 15–19, 2025), and Saudi Arabia (April 22, 2025).
This extensive PM Modi foreign visits list confirms that Narendra Modi is India’s most widely travelled Prime Minister to date.
Quotes – What Officials Are Saying
The Ministry of External Affairs released an official statement on May 11, 2026, saying: “The Prime Minister’s upcoming visit will further deepen India’s partnership with Europe across sectors.”
The MEA also stated: “The visit comes at a critical juncture as the escalating conflict in West Asia and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have sent shockwaves through global energy markets.”
These statements confirm that the Modi visit tomorrow and this week’s schedule is firmly grounded in economic and strategic necessity.
Impact – What This Tour Means for India and the World
The PM Modi foreign visit today carries significant global weight. This is the Indian Prime Minister’s first visit to Europe since the announcement of the conclusion of negotiations for a free trade agreement earlier this year.
Modi’s visit to Sweden, followed by Norway, indicates New Delhi’s key interest in deepening engagement with Nordic countries, which are home to advanced manufacturing. As a member of the European Union, Sweden will be party to the Free Trade Agreement announced by New Delhi and Brussels in January 2026.
For the broader region, the tour signals that India is proactively managing its energy and trade diplomacy in the face of global disruption. The visit will also provide an impetus to India’s bilateral trade of USD 19 billion in 2024 and investment ties with Nordic countries, as well as help build resilient supply chains following the India-EU FTA and India-EFTA TEPA.
Conclusion – What to Expect Next
PM Modi’s upcoming foreign visits 2026 reflect a broader strategy: securing energy, expanding trade networks, and strengthening strategic alliances amid a turbulent world. As of May 2026, Narendra Modi has made 99 international trips, visiting 79 countries. The five-nation tour starting May 15 will likely push that number higher and set the agenda for India’s foreign policy in the months ahead.
Analysts expect agreements in semiconductors, green hydrogen, AI, and defence to be signed during this visit. With global instability rising, PM Modi’s upcoming foreign visits 2026 schedule shows India is choosing engagement over isolation.
FAQs
Q1: How many countries has Narendra Modi visited?
As of May 2026, Narendra Modi has made 99 international trips, visiting 79 countries, including visits to the United States to attend the United Nations General Assembly. He is the most widely-travelled Prime Minister of India.
Q2: Did Narendra Modi ever visit Pakistan?
No. Narendra Modi has never made an official state visit to Pakistan during his tenure as Prime Minister. While he did make a brief, unannounced stopover in Lahore in December 2015 to wish then-PM Nawaz Sharif on his birthday, that was not a formal diplomatic visit. Bilateral relations between India and Pakistan have remained tense, and no official visit has taken place since.
Q3: Which plane does Narendra Modi travel on?
PM Narendra Modi travels on a specially configured Boeing 777-300ER aircraft operated by Air India One. The plane is equipped with advanced communication systems, medical facilities, and security features. It serves as India’s equivalent of Air Force One and is used exclusively for the President and Prime Minister of India on official foreign visits.
