From May 17th to 18th, 2026, the “Nordic” portion of the trip will center around Gothenburg, Sweden. Modi and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will discuss working together on trade, becoming more environmentally friendly, artificial intelligence, new technologies, startup companies, defense, space exploration, and dealing with climate change. They will both also speak to the European Round Table for Industry along with Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission.
After Sweden, Modi will go to Norway for the first time ever (and the first time an Indian Prime Minister has visited in 43 years) from May 18th to 19th, 2026. He will meet with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, and King Harald V and Queen Sonja, and speak at the India-Norway Business and Research Summit. This summit will focus on clean energy, the “blue economy” (using ocean resources sustainably), and making the most of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement.
Strategic northward tilt: Nordic engagement drives green and tech goals
The 3rd India-Nordic Summit will be held in Oslo, Norway on May 19th, 2026. Leaders from Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden will be there to discuss technology, innovation, renewable energy, being sustainable, defense, space, and issues relating to the Arctic. They’ll aim to increase trade and investment. In 2024, India’s trade with the Nordic countries was worth $19 billion.
The Netherlands as Europe’s capital and tech gateway
Before the Nordic countries, Modi will be in the Netherlands from May 15th to 17th, 2026, at the invitation of Prime Minister Rob Jetten. He will meet with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima and will work to improve cooperation in defense, security, innovation, “green hydrogen” (hydrogen produced in a way that doesn’t create pollution), semiconductors (computer chips), and water management. The Netherlands is a major European trade partner for India with $27.8 billion in trade in 2024-25 and has invested $55.6 billion in India over time. This will be Modi’s second visit to the Netherlands since 2017.
UAE stop sets the tone on energy and diaspora
The trip will start in the United Arab Emirates where Modi will meet President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on May 15th, 2026. The MEA says they’ll discuss their current relationship, with a strong focus on energy and what’s happening in the region and around the world. Expanding the India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is a key part of this.
The UAE is India’s third-largest trading partner and has given India $4.5 billion in investment over the last 15 years. With over 4.5 million Indians living in the UAE, looking after their well-being will also be an important part of the talks, as will increasing trade and investment.
Italy visit caps the momentum with a strategic roadmap
Lastly, Modi will go to Italy from May 19th to 20th, 2026 to meet with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President Sergio Mattarella. Both countries are following the Joint Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029 which includes trade, defense, clean energy, innovation, science and technology and connections between the people of the two countries. Trade between the two countries was $16.77 billion in 2025, and Italy has invested $3.66 billion in India since April 2000.
Taken as a whole, these meetings show how India views Europe and West Asia. The Netherlands offers a lot of investment and advanced technology, the Nordic countries are good for clean energy and knowledge of the Arctic, the UAE is key for energy and for the many Indians who live there, and Italy has a multi-year plan to strengthen business and strategic cooperation.
The MEA says the whole trip is to strengthen trade, investment and strategic cooperation, specifically with the EU and EFTA. The meetings with leaders in Europe and the Gulf are meant to finalize deals quickly over six days.
Looking at specific areas, energy, semiconductors, water management, green hydrogen and artificial intelligence are all important. Defense and space, which weren’t always a major part of these relationships, are now part of strategic discussions, which goes with India’s goal of having reliable supply chains and technology partnerships.
Business leaders will also be involved. The India-Norway Business and Research Summit will look at working together on clean energy and the “blue economy”, and the European Round Table for Industry in Sweden will connect India’s goals to businesses across Europe.
The way the trip looks (the meetings with the Kings and Queens and the President) is also important. Meeting with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, King Harald V and Queen Sonja and President Sergio Mattarella, and following the correct procedures, shows India respects the institutions of Europe while also focusing on business.
Key numbers and what to watch
Success won’t just be measured by what’s written in official statements, but by how much investment actually happens, how much new technology is developed together, and how standards are implemented. With the Netherlands already a major investor, Sweden increasing cooperation on green technology, Norway’s investment fund active in India, and Italy with its action plan, India has the opportunity to make its strategy for Europe much stronger.
Several metrics will signal whether the tour translates into commercial and strategic traction:
– Netherlands trade: USD 27.8 billion in 2024-25
– Dutch cumulative FDI in India: USD 55.6 billion
– India-Sweden trade: USD 7.75 billion in 2025
– India-Norway trade: around USD 2.73 billion in 2024
– Nordic trade with India: USD 19 billion in 2024
– Indians in the UAE: over 4.5 million people
– Norway’s GPFG in India: nearly USD 28 billion
According to the MEA, the immediate goal is to keep the momentum going in India’s relationships. If energy cooperation with the UAE improves, if working with the Nordic countries leads to advances in clean technology, and if more investment comes from Europe, then the trip will have been a success for New Delhi.
