Brasilia: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Brazil leg of his five-nation tour culminated in a potent blend of diplomacy, diaspora warmth, and cultural resonance, underlining India’s emergence as a formidable global player. Landing in Brasilia on Monday after a “very productive” BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, PM Modi was welcomed with a vibrant Samba-Reggae performance and heartfelt greetings by the Indian diaspora. “The Indian community accorded a memorable welcome, once again highlighting how passionate our diaspora is,” he posted on X.

Before flying to the Brazilian capital, PM Modi engaged in a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. He met Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font and expressed enthusiasm about deepening India-Chile ties. Their meeting followed the Chilean leader’s April visit to India marking 76 years of diplomatic relations.

PM Modi also interacted with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, affirming India’s enduring commitment to multilateralism, climate justice, peacekeeping, AI governance, and a reformed UN Security Council.

In another key moment, PM Modi met former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, now President of the New Development Bank (NDB). They discussed the BRICS-led financial institution’s evolving role in creating alternative frameworks to global financial systems.

Later, in Brasilia, PM Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Alvorada Palace by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The leaders held restricted-format meetings followed by delegation-level talks, with agreements signed on easing visas, trade expansion, defence cooperation, and climate action.

“President Lula is the Chief Architect of India-Brazil Strategic Partnership,” said PM Modi, who received Brazil’s highest civilian honour—the Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross. “It is a matter of great pride not just for me, but for 140 crore Indians,” he said. Lula praised Modi’s leadership and stressed boosting economic cooperation: “Our trade flow of $12 billion is not commensurate with our economic scale. We aim to triple it soon.”

At the BRICS environment session, PM Modi emphasised India’s global environmental leadership: “For us, it is not just about energy, but balancing life and nature. Earth is our mother, and we respond when she calls.” He highlighted Indian initiatives like Mission LiFE, the International Solar Alliance, and the Green Credits Initiative launched during India’s G20 Presidency.

“India’s voice is that of the Global South,” PM Modi told the media, “and we will keep working towards a fairer, greener, more inclusive world.”