Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Guyana for a two-day visit, during which he will address a special session of the Guyanese Parliament on November 21. This marks a significant moment in his extensive global diplomatic outreach, further solidifying his reputation as an influential world leader.
Modi’s address to the Guyanese Parliament is the 14th time he has spoken on behalf of India in foreign legislative chambers, making him the Indian Prime Minister with the highest number of such addresses. His previous speeches have taken him across the world, from the Americas to Europe, Africa, Australia, and Asia, underscoring India’s growing influence on the global stage.
To put this in perspective, Modi’s record of 14 foreign parliamentary addresses far surpasses that of his predecessors. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, for example, addressed foreign parliaments seven times, while Indira Gandhi spoke in foreign legislative bodies four times. Jawaharlal Nehru addressed foreign parliaments on three occasions, and Rajiv Gandhi and Atal Bihari Vajpayee each delivered two addresses. Other leaders, such as Morarji Desai and PV Narasimha Rao, spoke once.
Some notable addresses in Modi’s diplomatic career include speeches to the joint sessions of the US Congress in 2016 and 2023, as well as addresses to the parliaments of Australia, Fiji, Mauritius, Uganda, Sri Lanka, Mongolia, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal, and the Maldives.
In recognition of his global influence, Prime Minister Modi has been showered with honors during this visit. Guyana conferred upon him its highest national award, “The Order of Excellence,” while Barbados awarded him the “Honorary Order of Freedom of Barbados.” Additionally, Dominica honored Modi with its top award, and Nigeria bestowed upon him the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger (GCON) – an honor previously awarded only to Queen Elizabeth II in 1969. With these new accolades, the number of international honors Modi has received now totals 19.