Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to make an official visit to Morocco in July as part of a diplomatic tour spanning five countries in Africa, Latin America, and West Asia. This visit will mark Modi’s first trip to Rabat and aims to enhance bilateral cooperation and open new avenues for economic and security partnerships between the two nations.
According to the Economic Times, the tour will also include Argentina, Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, and Jordan. Modi seeks to elevate India’s relationships with Global South countries to more coordinated and integrated levels amid changing international geopolitical dynamics and increasing security and economic challenges.
Modi’s itinerary focuses on strengthening partnerships in food security, strategic minerals, and defense cooperation, alongside advancing the formation of an expanded international coalition to combat terrorism, particularly following the recent terrorist attack on a tourist convoy in the Indian region of Pahalgam, which sparked widespread reactions both domestically and internationally.
Through this tour, India aims to extend its international influence beyond its traditional Asian sphere and build alliances based on economic interests and security coordination, steering clear of conventional geopolitical alignments. New Delhi places particular importance on its relations with Morocco, which is seen as a strategic gateway to Africa and Europe and a promising partner in energy, agriculture, and fertilizer production.
The visit might culminate in the announcement of a new Indian stance on the Western Sahara issue if a diplomatic consensus reflecting the level of strategic partnership between the two countries is achieved, potentially marking a significant shift in Asian nations’ positions regarding the regional conflict.
