India's diplomacy, 18 to 24 May 2026
20 developments with 14 countries, from Ministry of External Affairs publications. Each links to its source.
Monday, 18 May
Statement
United Arab EmiratesIndia voices deep concern over attack targeting UAE's Barakah nuclear facility
India said it is deeply concerned at the attack targeting the Barakah nuclear facility in the UAE, calling such actions "unacceptable" and "a dangerous escalation". India urgently called for restraint and a return to dialogue and diplomacy.
Source: Statement on the attack targeting Barakah Nuclear Facility, UAE, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Visit
NorwayPrime Minister Modi makes official visit to Norway; ties elevated to Green Strategic Partnership
Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre hosted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an official visit from 18 to 19 May 2026. The leaders elevated relations to a Green Strategic Partnership and agreed to formulate a Joint Action Plan. India welcomed Norway joining the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, and Norway reiterated support for permanent membership for India in a reformed UN Security Council.
Source: India-Norway Joint Statement (May 18, 2026), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Other
NorwayPrime Minister Modi addresses India-Norway Business and Research Summit in Oslo
Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the India-Norway Business and Research Summit in Oslo with Crown Prince Haakon and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. CEOs of over 50 companies and more than 250 participants attended. Prime Minister Modi urged efforts to reach the USD 100 billion investment target under TEPA. Several business agreements between Indian and Norwegian companies were signed.
Source: Prime Minister attends the India-Norway Business and Research Summit, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Meeting
NorwayPrime Minister Modi has audience with King Harald V at the Royal Palace in Oslo
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had an audience with His Majesty King Harald V of Norway at the Royal Palace in Oslo. They discussed the strides made by Indian and Norwegian companies across sectors, particularly in new technologies. The audience was followed by a luncheon hosted by the King in honour of Prime Minister Modi.
Source: Prime Minister’s Audience with His Majesty King Harald V of Norway, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Agreement
NorwayIndia and Norway sign space, digital and health agreements during Prime Minister's visit
Outcomes of the Prime Minister's visit to Norway included three government-to-government agreements: an ISRO and Norwegian Space Agency framework agreement on outer space cooperation, an MoU on the India-Norway Digital Development Partnership, and a health cooperation MoU. Six further agreements involved research and business entities, and India will set up a pavilion at Nor-Shipping 2027.
Source: List of Outcomes: Prime Minister’s visit to Norway (May 18 - 19, 2026), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Meeting
NorwayPrime Minister Modi holds bilateral talks with Prime Minister Støre in Oslo
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks in Oslo with Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre, who received him at Oslo Airport. They underlined the aim of doubling current bilateral trade by 2030 and meeting the USD 100 billion investment commitment under TEPA, and tasked ministries to establish a Joint Working Group on Digitalization. Prime Minister Modi invited Prime Minister Støre to visit India.
Source: Prime Minister holds bilateral talks with Prime Minister of Norway, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Tuesday, 19 May
Visit
Costa Rica
HondurasMinister of State Pabitra Margherita attends Costa Rica presidential inauguration
Minister of State for External Affairs and Textiles Shri Pabitra Margherita visited Costa Rica from 8 to 10 May 2026 for the Presidential Inauguration of Ms. Laura Virginia Fernández Delgado. He met Foreign Minister Mr. Manuel Tovar and Minister of Science, Innovation, Technology and Telecommunications Ms. Paula Bogantes, and paid floral tribute at the Gandhi bust at the University of Peace.
Source: Visit of MOS Shri Pabitra Margherita to Republic of Costa Rica, Republic of Honduras, Belize and Commonwealth of Dominica (May 8-15, 2026), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Meeting
DenmarkPrime Minister Modi meets Danish Acting Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Oslo
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi met Acting Prime Minister of Denmark Ms. Mette Frederiksen in Oslo on the sidelines of the 3rd India-Nordic Summit. They welcomed progress in the Green Strategic Partnership, agreed to strengthen collaboration in emerging technologies, research, start-ups and academic exchanges, and discussed defence, AI and mobility. The Prime Minister invited Danish companies to set up in GIFT city, Gujarat.
Source: Prime Minister’s meeting with Acting Prime Minister of Denmark on the margins of the 3rd India-Nordic Summit, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Meeting
FinlandPrime Minister Modi meets Finnish Prime Minister Orpo at India-Nordic Summit in Oslo
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Prime Minister Petteri Orpo on the sidelines of the 3rd India-Nordic Summit in Oslo on 19 May 2026. They reaffirmed their commitment to doubling bilateral trade by 2030 and announced that India and Finland will jointly host the World Circular Economic Forum in September 2026 in Gandhinagar, Gujarat.
Source: Prime Minister’s meeting with Prime Minister of Finland on the margins of the 3rd India-Nordic Summit, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Meeting
IcelandPrime Minister Modi meets Icelandic Prime Minister Frostadottir in Oslo
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Kristurn Frostadottir of Iceland in Oslo on the margins of the 3rd India-Nordic Summit, their first meeting since she took office. They discussed the India-EFTA TEPA and reviewed cooperation in geothermal energy, fisheries, technology, culture, tourism and mobility, as well as Arctic research. Modi invited her to visit India.
Source: Prime Minister’s meeting with Prime Minister of Iceland on the margins of the 3rd India-Nordic Summit, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Wednesday, 20 May
Agreement
ItalySixteen outcomes listed from Modi's visit to Italy, from defence industry to critical minerals
The outcomes of the Prime Minister's visit to Italy include the India-Italy Defence Industrial Roadmap, an MoU on critical minerals, a JDI on mobility of nurses from India to Italy, an MoU on the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, an MoU on maritime transport and ports, and the celebration of 2027 as the Year of Culture and Tourism.
Source: List of Outcomes: Prime Minister’s visit to Italy (May 19-20, 2026), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Visit
ItalyIndia and Italy elevate ties to a Special Strategic Partnership during Modi's Rome visit
During Prime Minister Modi's official visit to Italy on 19-20 May 2026, the two leaders elevated relations to a Special Strategic Partnership. They agreed to hold annual leaders' meetings, set up a Foreign Ministers-led review mechanism, aim for bilateral trade of € 20 billion by 2029, create the INNOVIT India hub and launch a Dialogue on Maritime Security.
Source: India-Italy Joint Declaration (May 20, 2026), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Meeting
ItalyModi calls on Italian President Mattarella at the Quirinale
Prime Minister Modi called on President Sergio Mattarella at the Quirinale in Rome. They reviewed cooperation in trade, defence, space, energy and AI, noted that early signing of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement would add momentum, discussed IMEC, and exchanged views on the conflicts in West Asia and Europe. Modi invited the President to visit India.
Source: Prime Minister calls on the President of Italy (May 20, 2026), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Thursday, 21 May
Other
BahrainDr. Pradeep Singh Rajpurohit appointed as next Ambassador of India to Bahrain
Dr. Pradeep Singh Rajpurohit (IFS:2004), presently High Commissioner of India to Trinidad and Tobago, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Bahrain and is expected to take up the assignment shortly.
Source: Dr. Pradeep Singh Rajpurohit appointed as the next Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Dialogue
EgyptIndia and Egypt hold 5th Joint Working Group meeting on Counter Terrorism
The 5th meeting of the India-Egypt Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism was held in New Delhi on May 20, 2026. The two sides condemned the Pahalgam attack of April 22, 2025 and the terror incident near Red Fort on November 10, 2025, discussed threats including drones and AI, and agreed to hold the next meeting in Egypt.
Source: Joint Press Release of the 5th Meeting of India-Egypt Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Dialogue
FranceIndia and France hold 8th Maritime Cooperation Dialogue in Paris
The 8th India-France Maritime Cooperation Dialogue was held in Paris on 20 May 2026, co-chaired by Deputy National Security Advisor Shri Pavan Kapoor, Mr. Guillaume Ollagnier and Mrs. Claire Raulin. They discussed countering piracy, maritime terrorism, drug trafficking and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and exchanged views on West Asia and the Indian Ocean.
Source: 8th DNSA level India France Maritime Cooperation Dialogue (May 20, 2026), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Other
UgandaDr. Ajay Kumar appointed India's next High Commissioner to Uganda
Dr. Ajay Kumar, an IFS officer of the 2002 batch presently posted at the Embassy of India in Washington, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Uganda. He is expected to take up the assignment shortly.
Source: Dr. Ajay Kumar appointed as the next High Commissioner of India to the Republic of Uganda, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Friday, 22 May
Visit
CyprusPresident Christodoulides makes State Visit to India; ties elevated to Strategic Partnership
President Nikos Christodoulides paid a State Visit to India from 20-23 May 2026 and held talks with Prime Minister Modi in New Delhi on 22 May 2026. The leaders agreed to elevate the Comprehensive Partnership to a Strategic Partnership and to commemorate the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2027. Cyprus reiterated support for India's permanent membership of a reformed UN Security Council.
Source: Joint Statement on the State Visit of the President of the Republic of Cyprus (May 20-23, 2026), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Agreement
CyprusIndia and Cyprus sign six MoUs and arrangements during President Christodoulides's visit
Documents signed during the State Visit covered a Joint Working Group on counter-terrorism, diplomatic training, innovation and technology, search and rescue coordination, higher education and research, and cultural cooperation for 2026-2030. Announcements included a Roadmap for Defence Cooperation for 2026-2031, Cyber Security and Consular Dialogues, Cyprus joining the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, and a planned Cyprus Trade Center in Mumbai.
Source: List of Outcomes: State Visit of President of the Republic of Cyprus, H.E. Mr. Nikos Christodoulides to India (May 20-23, 2026), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Saturday, 23 May
Meeting
United StatesU.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio calls on PM Modi
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on PM Modi and briefed him on progress in cooperation in defence, strategic technologies, trade and investment, energy security, connectivity, education and people-to-people ties. Rubio shared U.S. perspectives on regional issues including West Asia, and Modi reiterated the call for peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy.
Source: U.S. Secretary of State calls on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Each summary is taken from the MEA publication it links to. How we verify