As Prime Minister Narendra Modi goes on a three-country tour beginning Monday to Jordan, Ethiopia and Oman, a free-trade pact with Oman, strengthening business and political ties with Jordan, and preparations for an India-Africa Forum summit with Ethiopia are expected to be part of the agenda.
Announcing the visit, the Ministry of External Affairs said “at the invitation of King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a visit to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan from December 15-16, 2025. During the visit, the Prime Minister will meet King Abdullah… to review the gamut of relations between India and Jordan, and exchange perspectives on regional issues”.
This will be PM Modi’s first full-fledged bilateral visit to Jordan which coincides with the 75th year of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Jordan. PM Modi had transited through Jordan in February 2018, while on his way to Palestine. Even though it was a transit visit, the MEA’s Secretary (South) Neena Malhotra said “exceptional courtesies were accorded to him by His Majesty the King, making it more than just a transit visit. This, the current full bilateral visit is taking place after an interval of 37 years”.
PM Modi will reach Amman on December 15 and meet King Abdullah II for a one-on-one conversation, to be followed by delegation-level talks. On the next day, PM Modi and the King are likely to address the India-Jordan business event to be attended by leading businessmen from both sides. PM Modi will interact with the Indian community in Jordan and with the Crown Prince, he will visit Petra, a historic city that shares ancient trade linkages with India.
Secretary Malhotra said, “Our bilateral ties are marked by strong understanding at the leadership level. Since the last visit of His Majesty in 2018, both the leaders have met four times with the latest being on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy in June 2024. They are in touch with each other telephonically as well…”
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Global South outreach
In the second leg of the visit, the MEA said “at the invitation of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed Ali, the Prime Minister will pay a State visit to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia from December 16-17, 2025. This will be PM Modi’s first visit to Ethiopia. He will be holding wide-ranging discussions with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali on all aspects of India-Ethiopia bilateral ties’. Secretary Malhotra said, “There will be an address to the joint session of the Parliament by our Prime Minister; an interaction with the Indian community and some other activities… MoUs and agreements are expected to be signed…”
On India’s engagement with Africa, she said “the visit reaffirms India’s role as a trusted and long-term partner for Ethiopia. India remains committed to working with Ethiopia to build a stable, secure and inclusive global order and in advancing Africa’s priorities in line with Agenda 2063 and common global objectives…”
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In the final leg of his visit, the MEA said “at the invitation of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman, PM Modi will visit the Sultanate of Oman from 17-18 December, 2025. This will be the second visit of PM Modi to Oman”. “The visit will mark 70 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the nations, and follows the State visit of His Majesty the Sultan of Oman to India in December 2023.”
MEA’s Secretary Arun Chatterjee said, “About the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, we are all very optimistic about it. The teams from both sides have been working very hard for its early finalisation. And we are working towards it… it will open up a new chapter in the history of India-Oman trade and commercial relationship.”
