First Indian PM to visit in 57 years; economic ties, lithium and trade top agenda
Prime Minister Narendra Modi kicked off a historic visit to Argentina on Saturday by paying homage to the country’s national hero, General José de San Martín, at his memorial in Buenos Aires. The visit marks the first bilateral trip by an Indian Prime Minister to Argentina in nearly six decades.
Modi laid a wreath at the statue of San Martín — widely regarded as the liberator of Argentina, Chile and Peru — in a solemn ceremony that began his third stop on a five-nation tour that includes Ghana, Trinidad and Tobago, Brazil, and Namibia.
Later in the day, Prime Minister Modi was received by Argentine President Javier Milei at the iconic Casa Rosada, where the two leaders commenced high-level bilateral talks. A ceremonial welcome and lunch in Modi’s honour underscored the significance of the visit, which comes amid a period of sweeping economic reforms in Argentina — reminiscent of India’s own liberalisation journey.
The visit also coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between India and Argentina, which have grown significantly since the two nations became strategic partners in 2019.
Ahead of the trip, the Ministry of External Affairs highlighted several key areas of cooperation set to dominate talks: defence manufacturing, space technology, digital public infrastructure, agriculture, mining, energy, and people-to-people ties. MEA Secretary (East) P. Kumaran noted that India’s expertise in digital healthcare, telemedicine and DPI can offer scalable solutions for Argentina’s evolving needs.
Energy and mineral cooperation is expected to feature prominently in Modi’s discussions with Milei. Argentina possesses the world’s second-largest shale gas reserves and significant deposits of lithium, copper, and rare earth elements. India is increasingly relying on such resources for its clean energy transition and industrial growth. In 2022, the two countries signed an MoU on mineral resource cooperation, and a joint working group met earlier this year. India’s public sector joint venture KABIL has already secured lithium concessions in Argentina since 2024.
Trade between the two countries has seen a sharp rise in recent years. Bilateral trade more than doubled between 2019 and 2022, reaching $6.4 billion, and grew by a further 33% in 2024 to $5.23 billion. India is now Argentina’s fifth-largest trading partner and a key destination for its exports, particularly in edible oils such as soybean and sunflower oil.
Modi’s South American visit signals India’s deepening engagement with Latin America, with an eye on energy security, food imports, and diversified global partnerships. As bilateral talks continue, both nations are expected to explore opportunities to expand cooperation across strategic and commercial sectors.
