Modi to Tour 5 Nations for Energy, Trade Ties

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a five-nation tour from May 15 to 20, visiting the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy to bolster energy partnerships, trade and investment ties amid a Middle East crisis that has driven up global oil prices and strained India's foreign exchange reserves.

The tour begins in the UAE on May 15, where Modi will meet President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Discussions will cover bilateral issues, with a focus on energy cooperation and regional matters of mutual interest, according to the Ministry of External Affairs. The UAE ranks as India's third-largest trade partner and seventh-largest cumulative investor over the past 25 years. It supplies significant volumes of crude oil, LNG and LPG to India, while hosting a 4.5 million-strong Indian community whose welfare is expected to feature in talks. Indian firms have invested over $1.2 billion in UAE energy assets, including stakes in offshore blocks and participation in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

Modi will then travel to the Netherlands from May 15 to 17 at the invitation of Prime Minister Rob Jetten. He is scheduled to meet King Willem-Alexander...