Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to address a special session of the Guyanese Parliament on Thursday. This will be the 14th time that the Indian leader has delivered a speech in the legislative chambers of a foreign nation, underlining his commitment to boost India’s global diplomatic presence. PM Modi also holds the record of addressing the highest number of foreign parliaments as an Indian prime minister.
His 14 addresses so far have surpassed the number of his predecessor Manmohan Singh, who has given speeches in such forums seven times. In comparison, Indira Gandhi delivered at the foreign legislature on four occasions whereas Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Moraji Desai, Rajiv Gandhi, and PV Narasimha Rao made fewer parliamentary appearances, with most of them delivering only once or twice.
After PM Modi assumed his office in 2014, he made speeches in legislative bodies across continents, from Europe, Australia, Asia, and Africa. These appearances showcase India’s growing prominence on the global stage, with officials stating that the breadth of his speeches reflects India’s increasing influence on the world.
Remarkable International speeches of PM Modi
PM Modi’s global parliamentary addresses include two milestone speeches to the joint session of the US Congress which were delivered in 2016 and 2023. The prime minister’s first international speech began in the Pacific in 2014 with addresses to the Parliaments of Australia, Fiji, followed by a speech in the British parliament in 2015. In the Africa region, PM Modi presented his talks to the National Assembly of Mauritius in 2015 and the Parliament of Uganda in 2018. In the Asia region, he has given speeches to strengthen ties through his diplomatic engagement in Nepal, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Maldives, Bhutan, and Mongolia. His upcoming speech in Guyana is another move in reinforcing India’s global ties and displaying its diplomatic leadership on the international platform.
(With inputs from PTI)