Tracking PM Modi’s record 100 foreign visits

Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to New Delhi after a diplomatic tour of two countries, France and Slovakia, marking his 100th foreign trip since assuming office in 2014.

Over the past 12 years, Modi has become one of India’s most traveled prime ministers, using diplomacy, diaspora and strategic engagement as key pillars of his foreign policy. In fact, he is the most traveled Prime Minister of India, having made over 70 trips previously.

Foreign visits

According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Modi’s first foreign visit as prime minister was to Bhutan in June 2014, followed by a trip to Brazil for the BRICS summit the following month. Since then, he has traveled to 78 countries and made 100 foreign visits during three consecutive terms.

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Modi made 49 foreign tours during his first term between 2014 and 2019 and 27 during his second term. Since returning to power for a third consecutive term in 2024, he has already made 24 visits abroad. His current tour, which began on June 13 and ends on June 18, includes participation in the G7 summit in France and bilateral engagements in Slovakia.

Many historic firsts

The prime minister’s diplomatic footprint expanded to regions that had seen little engagement from Indian leaders for decades. He became the first Indian Prime Minister in 45 years to visit Poland in 2024 and the first in 41 years to visit Austria. His visit to Norway ended a 43-year hiatus, while his trip to Argentina in 2025 was the first by an Indian prime minister in 57 years.

His visit to Slovakia is the first by an Indian prime minister since the country’s independence in 1993.

Modi also recorded several historic firsts. He became the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel in 2017, Mongolia in 2015, Ukraine in 2024 and Slovakia in 2026. He remains the only Indian Prime Minister to have visited Palestine, undertaking the trip in 2018. He was also the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Rwanda.

Break protocols

Modi’s foreign visits have also been marked by several unusual diplomatic gestures and protocol exceptions by world leaders. During his visit to Papua New Guinea in 2023, Prime Minister James Marape personally received him at the airport despite a local convention discouraging official welcomes after sunset.

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In the United States, former President Barack Obama accompanied Modi to the Martin Luther King Jr. memorial, a gesture rarely made to foreign leaders. During Modi’s visit to Nice, the city’s mayor ordered that the Indian tricolor be flown at the city hall, a rare honor for a visiting foreign dignitary.

Beyond diplomacy

Some of Modi’s most frequently visited destinations reflect India’s strategic priorities. He visited France and the United States ten times each during his tenure, while Japan and the United Arab Emirates hosted him eight times.

His visits have often combined diplomatic engagements and outreach to the Indian diaspora, resulting in high-profile moments such as the “Howdy Modi” event in Houston in 2019 and the record-breaking celebration of International Yoga Day at the United Nations headquarters in New York in 2023.

Countries not visited by PM

Despite becoming one of India’s most traveled prime ministers and ending several long-standing diplomatic droughts, several important countries remain missing from Modi’s travel itinerary.

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Among major economies and strategically important nations, he has yet to visit Mexico, Ireland, Finland, the Czech Republic and Hungary. In Latin America, countries like Chile, Peru and Colombia have also not featured in its overseas commitments so far.

Among India’s most sensitive diplomatic relationships, Modi has never visited North Korea. The list is notable because several of these countries are important trade, technology and investment partners, suggesting that even after 100 foreign visits, India’s diplomatic outreach still has significant room for expansion.

When Modi was banned

Modi’s diplomatic record is particularly notable given that before becoming prime minister, he faced international isolation following the Gujarat riots in 2002. In 2005, the United States revoked his visa and refused him entry, a restriction that remained in place until he became prime minister in 2014.

Several European countries and the United Kingdom had also limited their official engagement with him before gradually restoring their ties in 2012.

Expenses and reviews

According to figures presented by the Ministry of External Affairs in Parliament, India spent around Rs 762 crore on the Prime Minister’s foreign visits between 2015 and 2025. Trips to the United States accounted for the highest expenditure, followed by France and Japan.

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Modi’s numerous overseas engagements have also drawn criticism from opposition parties, particularly the Congress, which has frequently questioned his diplomatic action. Congressional leaders have argued that despite more than 100 foreign visits, India has often struggled to gain explicit international support during periods of heightened security tensions with its neighbors.

Critics have also questioned the costs associated with foreign tours and high-profile diaspora events, arguing that frequent travel has sometimes been prioritized over pressing domestic concerns.

More recently, opposition leaders highlighted what they described as a contradiction when Modi urged Indians to avoid non-essential foreign travel in 2026 to conserve foreign exchange reserves amid global economic uncertainty, despite being one of the country’s most traveled prime ministers.

The government, however, has consistently defended the visits, saying they have strengthened India’s global position, expanded strategic partnerships, attracted investments, strengthened defense cooperation and increased India’s influence in multilateral forums.