Daijiworld Media Network - Brasilia
Brasilia, Jul 8: In a landmark diplomatic gesture, Brazil conferred its highest civilian honour — the Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross — on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his ongoing state visit on Tuesday.
This marks Modi’s 26th international honour and the third recognition during his current five-nation tour, which began on July 2. The award, Brazil’s most prestigious for foreign nationals, acknowledges PM Modi’s growing global stature and deepening strategic ties between India and Latin America’s largest democracy.
Earlier in his tour, PM Modi became the first foreign leader to receive the Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, and prior to that, was honoured with Ghana’s Officer of the Order of the Star during his stop in Accra.
Trinidadian PM Kamala Persad Bissessar praised Modi for his “unwavering leadership,” the “strength of the Indian diaspora,” and his “compassionate response” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Similarly, Ghana hailed Modi for “distinguished statesmanship and influential global leadership” — sentiments echoed across the region and among analysts tracking his diplomatic rise.
In June, Cyprus had conferred the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III upon Modi, while Sri Lanka and Mauritius earlier this year also honoured him with their highest awards — the Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana and Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (GCSK) respectively.
The steady stream of accolades, many being firsts for an Indian leader, reflects what observers call India’s increasingly confident foreign policy under Modi — defined by strategic outreach, diaspora diplomacy, and an unapologetic “India First” approach.
On Tuesday, PM Modi was given a grand ceremonial welcome at Brazil’s Alvorada Palace, where President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva personally received him. A 114-horse presidential escort led Modi’s motorcade, followed by military honours and an exchange of greetings between delegations.
The leaders held a closed-door meeting, followed by delegation-level talks and a formal signing of bilateral agreements. Modi will also be honoured with a state lunch before concluding his visit.
The stop in Brasilia comes right after PM Modi’s participation in the BRICS Summit in Rio de Janeiro, further deepening his engagement with the Global South and reinforcing India’s standing as a diplomatic heavyweight on the world stage.