Prime Minister Narendra Modi was bestowed Brazil's highest honor, the Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross, on Tuesday as part of his official State Visit to the South American country.
The prestigious award is the 26th global honor for the Indian PM and the third such one during his ongoing five-nation diplomatic visit that commenced on July 2.
Earlier on Friday, the PM Modi was on a two-day visit to Trinidad and Tobago. He became the first visiting head of government to receive the Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, which is the Caribbean island nation's top civilian honour.
Speaking at the ceremonial event, Trinidad and Tobago's Prime Minister Kamala Persad Bissessar praised PM Modi’s “global leadership, his enduring connection with the Indian diaspora, and his vital humanitarian assistance during the COVID-19 crisis.”
Just days before, while in Ghana’s capital, Accra, the Indian Prime Minister was honoured with the Officer of the Order of the Star of Ghana. Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama lauded Modi’s “distinguished statesmanship and influential global leadership” as he presented the national award.
Diplomatic analysts see these accolades as further affirmation of PM Modi’s growing reputation as a transformative world leader. They argue no previous Indian Prime Minister has had such far-reaching international influence.
“For the first time, India's foreign policy is unapologetically 'India First'—clear-headed, confident, and consistent. The world is not just watching; it is acknowledging and respecting this new India,” a former Indian diplomat commented.
In June, when he visited Cyprus, President Nikos Christodoulides awarded PM Modi the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III, which is the highest civilian award of the Mediterranean country.
The accolade trail went on earlier in April, when Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake bestowed PM Modi the Sri Lanka Mitra Vibhushana, the nation's greatest civilian award reserved for foreign leaders. The award was not just for India-Sri Lanka relations but a spiritual and regional solidarity forged on the basis of mutual respect.
A month earlier, while attending Mauritius's National Day in March, President Dharambeer Gokhool awarded PM Modi the Grand Commander of the Order of the Star and Key of the Indian Ocean (GCSK)—Mauritius's highest civilian honor. It was the first time an Indian Prime Minister had been conferred this honor.
On Tuesday, while PM Modi arrived in Brasilia after the BRICS Summit at Rio de Janeiro, he was accorded a grand ceremonial reception by Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva at Alvorada Palace. In a dramatic show of respect, 114 horses accompanied the motorcade of the Prime Minister, along with military honours and formal introduction of dignitaries.
Following the welcoming ceremony, both leaders had a closed-format bilateral meeting, followed by discussions at the level of delegations. The visit features a signing ceremony for bilateral documents, followed by official statements to the media. A State Lunch in honor of PM Modi at the Alvorada Palace concluded the day's ceremonial events.
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