PM Modi received a ceremonial welcome by Argentina President Javier Milei at Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires. This historic first visit in 57 years aims to boost bilateral ties in trade, defence, energy, mining, and technology as India and Argentina deepen their strategic partnership.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm and ceremonial welcome from Argentina’s President Javier Milei at the historic Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires on Saturday, marking a significant milestone in India-Argentina relations. This is the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Argentina in 57 years, underscoring the strengthening strategic partnership between the two nations.
PM Modi arrived in Argentina on Saturday morning as part of his five-nation tour, which has already taken him to Ghana and Trinidad & Tobago. His subsequent stops include Brazil and Namibia. The Argentina leg of his journey is of considerable diplomatic and strategic significance, as it not only strengthens political ties but also opens doors to greater cooperation in various key sectors.
The Prime Minister began his visit by paying floral tributes at the statue of General Jose de San Martin, the revered national hero of Argentina. This symbolic gesture was followed by a ceremonial reception at Casa Rosada, the seat of the Argentine government, where he was warmly received by President Milei. The two leaders greeted each other with enthusiasm before proceeding to delegation-level talks.
A luncheon hosted by President Milei in honor of PM Modi followed the official discussions, reflecting the warmth and depth of the bilateral relationship. India and Argentina have shared diplomatic ties for over 75 years and have been strategic partners since 2019. The visit comes at a time when Argentina is undergoing major economic reforms, many of which resonate with the transformative changes India has implemented in recent years.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), both leaders are expected to explore opportunities to deepen cooperation in several areas of mutual interest. MEA Secretary (East) P. Kumaran, in a pre-visit media briefing, highlighted the importance of sectors like defence manufacturing, information technology, digital public infrastructure, space, digital healthcare, and telemedicine as potential fields for collaboration.
“Our advancements in defence and digital healthcare solutions, especially telemedicine, can offer Argentina valuable expertise. The aim is to improve access to quality healthcare services and create a cost-effective healthcare model,” said Kumaran.
Economic and trade cooperation were key themes during the bilateral talks. Argentina holds rich reserves of critical minerals such as lithium, copper, and rare earth elements—resources vital to India’s clean energy transition and industrial growth. The collaboration on mineral resources gained momentum with the signing of an MoU in August 2022, followed by the first meeting of the Joint Working Group in January 2025.
“Argentina holds the world’s second-largest shale gas reserves and the fourth-largest shale oil reserves. Its potential as an energy partner for India is immense. Public sector enterprise KABIL has already secured concessions in Argentina in 2024, and further discussions are expected during the leaders’ meeting,” Kumaran added.
Another focal point of the discussions was bilateral trade, which has seen a remarkable surge over the past few years. Between 2019 and 2022, India-Argentina trade more than doubled, peaking at USD 6.4 billion in 2022. India became Argentina’s fourth-largest trading partner during that period. In 2024, bilateral trade reached USD 5.23 billion, with India emerging as Argentina’s fifth-largest trading partner and export destination.
Argentina remains one of India’s major suppliers of edible oils, including soybean and sunflower oils. The leaders also emphasized enhancing people-to-people ties, cultural exchanges, and academic collaboration.
The visit not only consolidates India’s engagement with Latin America but also emphasizes its growing role in global geopolitics. Argentina, as a key economy in South America, presents strategic opportunities for India in the realms of energy security, critical minerals, and global south cooperation.
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Prime Minister Modi’s visit has been hailed as a “historic step” in bolstering Indo-Argentine ties, with both countries keen to build a forward-looking partnership rooted in mutual benefit, shared values, and global cooperation.
As PM Modi’s Latin American tour continues, the momentum generated during his Argentina visit is expected to set the stage for deeper regional collaboration across multiple sectors in the future.
