Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to visit Australia in July as part of a wider regional tour that will also include Indonesia and New Zealand, according to local media reports citing diplomatic sources. The Australia Today reported that Modi will travel to Indonesia first, then New Zealand on July 7-8, before arriving in Australia for a two-day visit on July 9-10. The trip will mark his return to the country amid deepening strategic, economic, and diaspora ties between New Delhi and Canberra.
The visit is expected to feature official engagements in Sydney, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s office keen to host Modi, reinforcing the bilateral partnership. A major public-facing event with the Indian diaspora is likely to take place in Melbourne, where officials have inspected two venues with capacities of 14,000 and 35,000, suitable for winter conditions. The Australia India Business Council, celebrating its 40th anniversary, and the Australia-India CEO Forum are competing to host high-level business events during the visit, though only one is expected to be selected.
Modi last visited Australia in May 2023 for the Quad Leaders’ Summit in Sydney, where he held bilateral talks with Albanese, met CEOs, and addressed the diaspora. That visit resulted in key outcomes, including the signing of the Migration and Mobility Partnership Arrangement, progress on green hydrogen cooperation, and announcements of new consulates in Brisbane and Bengaluru. Expectations for the upcoming trip are high, with observers noting it will add to a strong lineup of global leaders visiting Australia in recent months.