Text of PM's letter to the people

Today, I embark on a five-nation visit to the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy from 15-20 May 2026.

My first stop is the UAE. This will be my eighth visit to the UAE in the past 12 years, a reflection of a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership built on deep mutual trust, personal friendships, and strong people-to-people ties. I look forward to meeting my brother, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. Under his leadership, the UAE has stood out for its resilience amid the profound geopolitical churn in West Asia. In these turbulent times, our energy partnership has emerged as a pillar of stability, and a strategic anchor for India’s energy security. We will exchange views on the regional situation, deepen our cooperation on energy security and resilient supply chains, and explore new avenues to further strengthen our investment partnership. The welfare of the 4.5 million-strong Indian community in the UAE, a cornerstone of our friendship, will also be on our agenda.

From the UAE, at the invitation of Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Rob Jetten, I will pay an Official Visit to the Netherlands. I will call on Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, and hold talks with Prime Minister Jetten. Coming on the heels of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, the visit will give a fresh impetus to our trade and investment ties, and to our cooperation across semiconductors, water, clean energy, green hydrogen, defence and innovation. I also look forward to engaging with the vibrant Indian community, our living bridge with the Netherlands.

From the Netherlands, at the invitation of Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Ulf Kristersson, I will travel to Gothenburg, Sweden on 17 May. My consultations with Prime Minister Kristersson will aim to add greater depth and breadth to our cooperation, particularly in trade and investment, innovation, green transition, joint R&D and defence. Together with PM Kristersson and the President of the European Commission, H.E. Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, I look forward to a constructive engagement with European business leaders at the European Round Table for Industry, a timely conversation that will boost investment inflows from European businesses.

From Sweden, at the invitation of Prime Minister H.E. Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre, I will pay a two-day visit to Norway. This will be my first visit to Norway, and the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 43 years. I will call on Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja, hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Støre, and jointly inaugurate the India-Norway Business and Research Summit. Building on the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement that entered into force on 1 October 2025, we will chart the next chapter of our bilateral cooperation in trade and investment, sustainability, offshore industry, research and higher education, Arctic and polar research, space, and talent mobility.

On 19 May, I will engage with my Nordic counterparts at the 3rd India-Nordic Summit in Oslo, building on our previous Summits in Stockholm (2018) and Copenhagen (2022). Our exchanges will give new strength to the vibrant India-Nordic ties, and strengthen joint collaborations in technology and innovation, trade and investment, green transition, blue economy, defence, digitalisation and Artificial Intelligence, and reform of global governance institutions. I will also have the opportunity to meet Nordic leaders bilaterally.

The final leg of my visit takes me to Italy on 19-20 May, at the invitation of Prime Minister H.E. Ms. Giorgia Meloni. I will call on the President of the Italian Republic, H.E. Mr. Sergio Mattarella, and hold talks with Prime Minister Meloni. A central focus of our discussions will be the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a transformative initiative linking India to Europe through the Gulf, in which Italy is a key European partner. As IMEC moves from vision to implementation, India and Italy share a special responsibility in shaping a connectivity architecture that delivers prosperity and resilient supply chains. We will also review the implementation of our Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029, and advance cooperation across trade and investment, defence and security, clean energy, and science and technology. In Rome, I will also visit the Headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), an occasion to reiterate India’s firm commitment to multilateralism and our resolve to work with FAO towards global food security and nutrition.

I am confident that these visits, from the Gulf to the Nordics to the Mediterranean, will reinforce India’s strategic partnerships across regions critical to our future, deepen our trade, investment and people-to-people ties, bolster India's energy security, and advance our shared vision of connectivity, prosperity, and a stable global order.