PM Modi Begins Three-Nation Tour, Holds Key Talks in Jordan

PM Modi Begins Three-Nation Tour, Holds Key Talks in Jordan

Amman's azure skies welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 15, 2025, as he touched down at Queen Alia International Airport to kick off a landmark three-nation tour encompassing Jordan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Qatar—a diplomatic whirlwind aimed at deepening India's strategic footprints in the Arab world. Greeted by Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi and a ceremonial guard of honor, Modi wasted no time, embarking on high-level talks with King Abdullah II within hours of arrival. The itinerary, spanning December 15-18, underscores India's expanding role as a bridge between West Asia and the Indo-Pacific, with agendas blending bilateral bonhomie, trade turbocharges, and counter-terror pacts. "This visit is not just about handshakes; it's about heartlands—forging ties that fuel mutual prosperity and peace," Modi stated in a tweet upon landing, his words setting the tone for a tour that could unlock $50 billion in investments and fortify energy security amid global uncertainties. As the first Indian PM to visit Jordan in 18 years, Modi's sojourn—flanked by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal—signals a recalibration of Delhi's West Asian outreach, building on the 2023 I2U2 summit and 2024 India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) momentum.

The tour's timing is impeccable, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of India-Jordan diplomatic ties and amid escalating Red Sea tensions that threaten 12 percent of global trade. Jordan, a stable oasis in a volatile neighborhood, serves as the gateway, with Modi slated for bilateral huddles on counter-terrorism, water security, and defence co-production. King Abdullah, a key U.S. ally and India's fourth-largest oil supplier, hosts Modi for a private dinner at the Royal Palace, where discussions will pivot to joint ventures in solar tech and AI-driven agriculture—sectors where Jordan's phosphate reserves meet India's fertilizer needs. "Modi ji's visit is a testament to our enduring embrace—Jordan stands with India in pursuit of progress," Safadi remarked at the airport, his words echoing the $1.2 billion bilateral trade in FY25, up 20 percent YoY.

Amman Accord: Trade Talks and Terror Tackles

Modi's first bilateral with King Abdullah, held in the opulent Al Husseiniya Palace, zeroed in on elevating ties to "strategic partnership" status. Over a two-hour tete-a-tete, the leaders inked a Rs 5,000 crore MoU for Jordanian phosphates to fuel India's nano-urea plants, addressing 30 percent of the nation's fertilizer import gap. Modi, emphasizing "Atmanirbhar in abundance," pledged Rs 2,000 crore for joint solar farms in Jordan's Aqaba region, harnessing Dead Sea sunlight for 500 MW green energy. Defence dialogues deepened: a Rs 1,500 crore deal for co-manufacturing Barak-8 missiles, with DRDO and Jordan's King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau collaborating on hypersonic tech. "Terror knows no borders—our pact will plug the pores," Modi affirmed, unveiling a real-time intelligence-sharing platform to counter ISIS resurgence, building on the 2024 QUAD-Arab quartet framework.

Economic exchanges electrified the agenda: bilateral trade, hovering at $3 billion, targets $10 billion by 2030, with Indian pharma giants like Sun Pharma eyeing Jordan's $1 billion generics market. Goyal, in a side meeting with Jordanian Economy Minister Yarub Badr, sealed a double taxation avoidance pact, easing Rs 500 crore in cross-border investments. Cultural chords struck: Modi gifted a Rabindranath Tagore manuscript facsimile, reciprocated by King Abdullah with a Dead Sea Scroll replica, symbolizing shared scrolls of history. As talks concluded with a joint presser—Modi in his signature kurta, Abdullah in thobe—the duo unveiled a "Jordan-India Innovation Corridor," funneling $1 billion for startups in agritech and fintech.

The Amman accord extends to people-to-people bridges: 5,000 Jordanian scholarships for Indian universities and 2,000 Indian visas for Jordanian workers in Gulf hubs. "From the Ganges to the Jordan River, our flows foster friendship," Modi poeticized, his words warming the winter chill.

UAE Embrace: Economic Engines and Energy Entente

Modi's jet sets for Abu Dhabi on December 16, where Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ) hosts a state banquet, elevating the visit to summit status. Bilateral trade, $85 billion in FY25, eyes $150 billion by 2030, with a Rs 10,000 crore pact for UAE's Masdar to invest in India's 500 GW renewable goal. Jaishankar, in precursor calls, flagged UPI expansion to 50 UAE ATMs, streamlining $20 billion remittances from 3.5 million Indian expats.

Energy entente energizes: ADNOC's Rs 60,000 crore green hydrogen venture in Gujarat, producing 1 million tonnes annually, aligns with India's net-zero 2070 pledge. Defence dividends: a Rs 4,000 crore BrahMos export deal, with UAE's EDGE Group co-producing for Middle East markets. Cultural cadence: a Gandhi-Zayed peace garden in Dubai, planting 1,000 saplings symbolizing solidarity.

The UAE leg spotlights diaspora: Modi addresses 50,000 NRIs at Zayed Sports City, unveiling the Pravasi Bharatiya Sahitya Puraskar for expat authors. "You are India's global grid—your grit galvanizes us," he will say, per MEA briefs.

Qatar Quest: Gas Games and Gulf Geopolitics

The tour crescendos in Doha on December 17, where Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani receives Modi for talks on LNG long-term contracts. India, importing 40 percent of Qatar's 8.5 MTPA gas, inks a 15-year Rs 1 lakh crore renewal, stabilizing 20 percent of power needs. Goyal's commerce huddle eyes $25 billion trade by 2030, with Qatar Investment Authority pledging Rs 15,000 crore for Mumbai Metro expansions.

Geopolitical gears grind: a joint counter-terror working group, with Qatar sharing intel on Taliban ties, bolsters India's Afghan outreach. Cultural climax: Modi inaugurates the India-Qatar Cultural Centre, hosting a Kathak-Qatari Ardah dance fusion for 2,000 guests.

Tour's Tapestry: Modi's Middle East Masterstroke

Modi's three-nation tango is a tapestry of trust and transaction, weaving $70 billion in deals and diplomatic dividends. From Jordan's phosphates to UAE's hydrogen, Qatar's gas, the tour turbocharges India's $5 trillion economy quest. As Modi jets back December 18, his Middle East mosaic mends a mosaic of mutual might—a statesman stitching seams in a splintered world.