Bangla Press Desk: Rajya Sabha Member Harsh Vardhan Shringla has described Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent five-nation visits as a strategic milestone that strengthened India’s global standing amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.
In an interview with a media outlet, Shringla, also former Indian Foreign Secretary, said Modi’s visits to the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy from 15 to 20 May took place at a time when the world continues to face the Ukraine war, conflict in West Asia and global economic uncertainty.
He said the tour went beyond diplomatic engagement and formed part of a calculated effort to boost India’s economic, technological, energy and defence cooperation.
Shringla said the UAE visit stood out as particularly significant, noting that the Gulf nation showed strong confidence in India despite global security and economic challenges. He said the UAE announced a $5 billion investment in India and both countries continued work on a key defence cooperation framework agreement that could reshape military ties.
He added that the UAE serves as a strategic gateway for India to the wider Gulf region and that the visit also helped strengthen ties with countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Speaking on the Netherlands, Shringla said the country plays a key role in India’s high-technology sector, particularly semiconductors. He said the Dutch government has pledged support for technology transfer and manufacturing expansion, while its expertise in renewable energy and climate-resilient infrastructure could support India’s sustainable development goals.
He also highlighted growing cooperation with Sweden and Norway in northern Europe, particularly in green hydrogen, sustainable energy and artificial intelligence-driven energy technologies.
Shringla said these countries have long served as economic partners of India, but Modi’s visit elevated those relationships to a “completely different level.”
He described the Norway visit as historic, noting that it marked the first visit by an Indian prime minister to the country in more than four decades. He said Norway’s investment capacity and technological strength could significantly boost India’s green energy sector.
Shringla said the world increasingly views India as an “island of peace, stability and progress” amid global crises, adding that countries now see India as a reliable partner and are eager to expand investment and cooperation.
He further said the tour helped India secure semiconductor supply chains, attract multi-billion-dollar investments and strengthen defence frameworks, positioning the country as a stable global power in the years ahead.
