Modi heads to New Zealand after Australia seals nuclear and defence deals
Narendra Modi has left Australia for Auckland after securing agreements on civil nuclear energy, maritime security and critical minerals. The final leg of his tour will test fresh momentum in India-New Zealand trade and wider strategic ties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for New Zealand on Friday after concluding a three-day visit to Australia, where India and Australia signed a series of agreements in civil nuclear energy, maritime security and critical minerals. Modi is on a three-nation visit to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand aimed at boosting trade, energy and defence ties.
In the final leg of the tour, Modi will travel to Auckland at the invitation of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. During the two-day visit, he will hold bilateral talks with Luxon and other top leaders, and address the Indian diaspora. Before leaving for the visit, Modi said his talks with Luxon would focus on ways to enhance economic, trade and commercial engagements.
As he wrapped up his Australia visit, Modi said in a post on X, "As my Australia visit concludes, I express my heartfelt gratitude to the Government and people of Australia as well as to PM Albanese for their warmth." He added, "The outcomes of this visit have further strengthened our partnership and opened new avenues for cooperation across diverse sectors. The momentum in the times to come will benefit our nation and the entire planet." He was seen off at the airport by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
The Ministry of External Affairs said in a post on X, "Stronger Partnership. Greater Ambition. Shared Future. PM @narendramodi departed Melbourne after a successful visit further strengthening the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership." It added, "From strategic defence cooperation and economic engagements to education, sports and vibrant community connections, the visit opened new avenues for collaboration and reinforced the deep bonds between the people of India and Australia. PM has emplaned for the last leg of his visit to Auckland, New Zealand."
During his three-day visit to Australia, Modi held summit talks with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and the two leaders underlined the importance of the bilateral partnership in ensuring a peaceful Indo-Pacific. A major focus of the summit was on significantly stepping up defence ties, especially in the maritime domain.
An agreement on civil nuclear energy, which will facilitate the commercial supply of uranium from Australia to India for New Delhi's nuclear power projects, was sealed after more than two years of negotiations. Before Australia, Modi visited Indonesia, where he signed 14 agreements to strengthen cooperation in critical minerals, maritime security and other key sectors.
On New Zealand, Modi said, "My visit will meaningfully build upon the strong momentum in our bilateral ties pursuant to the visit of Prime Minister Luxon to India in March 2025." He also said India and New Zealand have committed themselves to strengthening bilateral trade and commercial ties with the signing of the Free Trade Agreement. With his Australia visit over and Auckland next, Modi's three-nation tour has centred on expanding cooperation in trade, energy, defence and other priority sectors.
With PTI Inputs