PM Modi set to visit Europe in May, likely to meet Pope

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a week-long visit to Europe from around May 18, seeking to consolidate trade and investment ties with the continent amid increased geoeconomic uncertainties caused by the West Asia war. A possible stop at the Vatican could see a meeting between the PM and the Pope.

Modi will first visit Norway, to take part in the third India-Nordic summit in Oslo alongside leaders from Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and host Norway. The previous summits were held in Stockholm in 2018 and Copenhagen in 2022.

Norway, a member of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), plays an important role in energy security. The meetings in Oslo are expected to focus on green energy, climate change, the blue economy, innovation, digitalisation and Arctic cooperation, according to people familiar with the matter.


Modi is also likely to travel to the Netherlands, which he last visited in 2017. The Netherlands is a key partner in water management, agriculture, technology and semiconductor industry and has significant Indian investment.

The trip also includes Modi's first bilateral visit to Italy as PM. Earlier he attended the G20 summit in the country in 2021 and the G7 outreach in 2024. Discussions with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni are expected to focus on defence, energy and investment, besides the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor.

In mid-June, Modi will visit France for the G7 Outreach summit.