According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Modi will arrive in Indonesia on Monday before travelling to Australia. The tour will conclude in New Zealand on July 11. The visit comes as New Delhi continues to expand its regional influence through closer political, economic and strategic cooperation with key Indo-Pacific partners.
The diplomatic outreach follows Modi's recent visits to Mauritius and Seychelles, as well as the visit of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi to New Delhi earlier this week. Senior Ministry of External Affairs official Rudrendra Tandon said the focus has now shifted toward the eastern maritime zones of the Indian Ocean and India's Act East engagement, reflecting the country's renewed emphasis on strengthening ties across the Asia-Pacific.
During the visit, Prime Minister Modi is expected to hold bilateral meetings with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon. The high-level discussions are expected to focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation and advancing strategic partnerships between India and the three nations.
While in Melbourne, Modi is also expected to meet leaders of leading Australian companies and visit the Melbourne Cricket Ground, highlighting both economic engagement and people-to-people connections between the two countries.
India remains one of Australia's largest trading partners, while nearly one million Indian-born residents constitute Australia's largest overseas-born community, underlining the deep economic and social ties shared by the two countries.
The New Zealand leg of the visit assumes additional significance amid growing anti-Indian sentiment in the country and political tensions within New Zealand's ruling coalition over the recently concluded free trade agreement between India and New Zealand.
Describing the visit as historic, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said it would be the first visit to New Zealand by an Indian Prime Minister in four decades, marking a significant milestone in bilateral relations.
India and New Zealand signed a free trade agreement in April that will eventually eliminate tariffs on 100 percent of Indian goods and 95 percent of New Zealand goods, paving the way for deeper economic integration and expanded trade opportunities.
Prime Minister Modi's three-nation tour is expected to reinforce India's strategic presence across the Asia-Pacific region, strengthen diplomatic and economic partnerships, and further advance the country's Act East policy at a time of increasing geopolitical and economic significance.
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