Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Argentina marks a historic milestone, the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Latin American nation in 57 years. Prime Minister paid tribute at the Monument of General José de San Martín, Argentina’s revered freedom fighter. Later, he was accorded ceremonial welcome at the Casa Rosada by President Javier Milei. The two leaders held a brief one-on-one meeting, followed by delegation-level talks covering the full spectrum of bilateral ties.
The Ministry of External Affairs elaborated on the discussions in a special briefing held in Buenos Aires. Secretary (East) in the Ministry, P. Kumaran said, both leaders agreed to enhance collaboration in key sectors including trade & commerce, technology, defence, space, health, and pharmaceuticals and further deepen the strategic partnership between the two countries.
The Prime Minister requested Argentina’s support in expanding the India-MERCOSUR preferential trade agreement, noting that it would open new opportunities for both economies. On agriculture, both sides stressed the need to enhance market access for dairy and farm products and explore joint efforts in technology sharing and sustainability.
In healthcare, Prime Minister Modi highlighted India’s strength in producing affordable, high-quality medicines. He discussed the possibility of moving India from Annex-II to Annex-I of Argentina’s pharmaceutical regulatory framework, which would facilitate smoother entry of Indian pharmaceutical products into the Argentine market
Argentina updated India on its fast-track import approvals, especially for medicines with US FDA or European Medical Authority (EMA) clearance. India mentioned that this would significantly benefit the people of Argentina by improving access to affordable and life-saving medicines and reduce the cost of healthcare in Argentina. Initiatives in telemedicine and digital health solutions were also discussed.
The two leaders also discussed cooperation in the energy and critical mineral sectors. Prime Minister underlined India’s growing energy and industrial needs and emphasized that Argentina could serve as a reliable partner in supporting India’s developmental journey.
With vast reserves of shale gas and oil as well as conventional oil and gas, Argentina holds strong potential to become an important energy partner for India. Argentina’s rich reserves of critical minerals, including lithium, copper, and rare earth elements, align with India’s need for secure and sustainable resources to drive its clean energy transition and industrial growth.
Space cooperation also featured in the discussions, with both sides looking to build on the 2007 launch of Argentina’s first satellite by ISRO. New areas of collaboration discussed include satellite development, launch services, and space applications. The Prime Minister highlighted the significant growth of India’s space industry, including the emergence of a vibrant private sector, capable of building everything from rockets to satellites. The Prime Minister thanked Argentina for its strong support following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam and appreciated Argentina’s solidarity during the difficult time.
Following the delegation level talks, President Milei hosted a lunch for the Prime Minister, wherein the leaders had a freewheeling discussion on a number of issues including on the International Big Cat Alliance and multiple uses that drones can be put to – like agriculture, healthcare and project monitoring. President Milei showed keen interest in India’s UPI digital payments platform. The two sides agreed to facilitate a visit by a central bank delegation to understand how the system helps effective control of monetary policy.
Prospects of cooperation in Sports Management was also discussed, acknowledging India’s strength in cricket with Argentina’s strength in football; and on exploring startup and innovation ecosystems.
The Prime Minister also invited President Javier Milei to visit India at an early opportunity. He also invited the President to visit the lion sanctuary in Gujarat, and promised that it will be an enjoyable experience for him.
This visit will further strengthen the strategic partnership between India and Argentina and allow the two nations to explore new avenues of cooperation across a wide range of sectors including trade and investment, health and pharmaceuticals, defense and security, infrastructure, mining and mineral resources, agriculture and food security, green energy, information and communication technologies, digital innovation, disaster management, science and technology, education, and people-to-people linkages.
