For much of its history India practised a cautious, non-aligned diplomacy in which prime ministerial travel was rare and largely ceremonial. Some gaps were long: the Prime Minister's 2015 visit to the UAE was the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 34 years.
Global Outreach & Summits
Global Outreach & Summits
Between June 2014 and September 2026 the Prime Minister made 103 foreign trips to 81 distinct countries, according to the PMO's list of visits. The travel is not ceremonial: each visit has carried trade, investment, energy, defence and diaspora agreements. India hosted the G20 in 2023 across 60 cities, secured permanent G20 membership for the African Union, and chaired BRICS in 2026, hosting the 18th summit in New Delhi.
103
Foreign trips, 2014–2026
81
Countries visited
60
Cities that hosted G20 meetings (2023)
Key milestones since 2014
2014
First foreign visit, to Bhutan
The Prime Minister's first foreign visit after 26 May 2014 was to Bhutan on 15–16 June 2014, the earliest entry in the PMO's list of foreign visits.
2015
First UAE visit in 34 years
2015
India-Africa Forum Summit hosted
2017
First prime ministerial visit to Israel
2018
All ASEAN leaders at Republic Day
2023
G20 Leaders' Summit in New Delhi
2024
First prime ministerial visit to Ukraine
2026
18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi
2014
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20142026
Latest
First foreign visit, to Bhutan
The Prime Minister's first foreign visit after 26 May 2014 was to Bhutan on 15–16 June 2014, the earliest entry in the PMO's list of foreign visits.
Why it matters Diplomacy at this tempo converts into contracts. The UAE visits produced a comprehensive trade agreement and a rupee-dirham settlement mechanism; the Gulf tours secured energy supply and investment commitments; the US visits produced jet-engine co-production and semiconductor partnerships; Africa and the Pacific outreach opened new export markets. Presence is what turns goodwill into business.
- 103 foreign trips to 81 distinct countries, June 2014 to September 2026 (PMO list of visits).
- India hosted the G20 in 2023 with 200-plus meetings in 60 cities — what the Union Cabinet called an unprecedented footprint for G20 events.
- The African Union was admitted as a permanent G20 member at the New Delhi summit, on India's proposal.
- India chaired BRICS in 2026 — over 400 meetings and engagements in 30 cities — and hosted the 18th summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 12–13 September, where leaders adopted the BRICS New Delhi Declaration.
- The 2015 visit to the UAE was the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 34 years.
- India convened three Voice of the Global South summits (two in 2023, one in 2024); 125 countries took part in the first.
History
Notable milestone
India's G20 presidency in 2023 held over 200 meetings across 60 cities in all 28 States and 8 Union Territories — an unprecedented footprint for G20 events, the Union Cabinet said — culminating in the New Delhi Leaders' Declaration. At that summit the African Union was admitted as a permanent G20 member on India's initiative. In 2026 India chaired BRICS, with over 400 meetings and engagements across 30 cities and the 18th summit at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on 12–13 September, which adopted the BRICS New Delhi Declaration.
How it works
The method is sustained personal presence backed by deliverables. Visits are prepared so that agreements are signed on arrival rather than promised: comprehensive economic partnerships, energy supply contracts, defence co-production, currency-settlement mechanisms and labour-mobility pacts. Diaspora events are used to mobilise investment and remittances, and multilateral platforms — G20, BRICS, SCO, Quad, Voice of Global South — are used to set agenda rather than only attend.
Outlook
Recognition has followed: in July 2026 Indonesia conferred its highest civilian honour, the Bintang Adipurna, on the Prime Minister. India has also convened three Voice of the Global South summits — 125 countries took part in the first — positioning itself as the bridge between developing countries and the major economies.
By the numbers
103 foreign trips to 81 distinct countries, June 2014 – September 2026 (PMO list). G20 2023 — 200+ meetings across 60 cities. African Union admitted as a permanent G20 member on India's initiative. 3 Voice of the Global South summits convened; 125 countries at the first. BRICS 2026 chair — 400+ meetings and engagements across 30 cities; New Delhi Declaration adopted at the 18th summit, 12–13 September. Sources: Prime Minister's Office, Ministry of External Affairs, PIB.
Data current to: 26 May 2014 – 1 September 2026
Source: Prime Minister's Office — official list of the Prime Minister's foreign visits since 26 May 2014, one row per trip (linked; trips from 2014 to 2019 are on its Previous Foreign Visits page). The two tables list 103 trips from June 2014 to 1 September 2026, covering 81 distinct countries if Palestine is counted (80 without it). These totals are a count of the list's entries: the PMO publishes no total and no year-by-year count, so no chart is shown. · link