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Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a three-nation tour next week. He will first head to Jordan and then to Ethiopia and Oman, with his trip beginning on Monday (December 15) and concluding on December 18.
The visit aims to enhance India’s trade and security ties with the three nations as well as bolster its strategic presence in West Asia and Africa. A free trade agreement (FTA) between India and Oman is also likely in the cards during Modi’s trip.
Let’s take a closer look.
PM Modi will kick-start his three-nation tour with a visit to Jordan for his first bilateral trip to the country. He will be in the West Asian nation from December 15-16 at the invitation of King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein.
The Indian premier will meet King Abdullah II to assess the “entire gamut of relations between India and Jordan, and exchange perspectives on regional issues,” according to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The discussions will also reportedly focus on counterterrorism, energy partnerships and rising economic opportunities amid a geopolitical shift in West Asia.
The visit comes as India and Jordan mark 75 years of the establishment of their diplomatic relations.
PM Modi and King Abdullah are expected to address the India-Jordan business event.
“India and Jordan also share strong economic ties, with India being the third largest trading partner of Jordan, and the bilateral trade between the two countries is valued at $2.8 billion,” the MEA said.
Jordan has also enhanced connectivity with India in recent times.
"Royal Jordanian has recently started direct flights between Amman and Mumbai and plans to expand its operations to New Delhi. Jordan provides a tourist visa on arrival to Indian tourists," the ministry added.
During his trip, PM Modi will interact with the vibrant Indian community. The West Asian country is home to nearly 17,000 Indians, with many employed in the garment sector, as per the Indian Embassy in Amman.
According to the MEA, Modi’s trip aims to further boost “India-Jordan bilateral engagement, explore new avenues of collaboration for mutual growth and prosperity, and reiterate our commitment to promote regional peace, prosperity, security and stability.”
After Jordan, PM Modi will head to Ethiopia for a state visit from December 16-17. The Indian leader’s first visit to the East African nation will strive to enhance bilateral ties.
Modi will hold wide-ranging talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali on several sectors, including agriculture, investment and development cooperation. The duo had met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Johannesburg in 2023.
"Ethiopia is an important and trusted partner in the Global South and the African context. The current visit reflects India's commitment towards deepening South-South Cooperation and strengthening our partnership with Africa," the MEA said.
This will be Modi’s third trip to Africa this year, which is aimed at strengthening India’s position as a leader of the Global South, people familiar with the matter told Economic Times (ET).
"India and Ethiopia share a long history of partnership in the sector of education, skilling and capacity building. India has been offering scholarship and training opportunities to Ethiopian students and professionals through iTech and ICCR scholarships," the MEA said.
Ethiopia, which joined BRICS in 2023, is one of India's biggest development partners in Africa. India is also among the East African country’s top three investment partners, with investment in various fields such as agriculture and floriculture, engineering, plastics, manufacturing, cotton and textile,
ET reported.
About 650 Indian companies have licensed investments of over $5 billion in Ethiopia.
Trade will be a major agenda during PM Modi's visit. India is Ethiopia’s second-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade clocking $571.52 million during 2023-24, according to India's Department of Commerce.
"The visit will also help consolidate cooperation across a broad spectrum of areas, including economy, trade, culture, and people-to-people contacts. On the economic front, discussions are expected to focus on diversifying trade, enhancing connectivity and identifying new opportunities for investment in infrastructure, IT, mining, agriculture, and manufacturing," MEA Secretary (South) Dr Neena Malhotra was quoted as saying by
ANI.
During his visit, PM Modi will also meet the Indian diaspora in Ethiopia. The Indian community has a notable presence in Ethiopia's education sector, with about 150 Indians in faculty positions at universities and higher educational institutions.
In Africa, Ethiopia is among the largest recipients of long-term concessional credit from India. New Delhi has sanctioned lines of credit of more than $1 billion to Ethiopia for different sectors.
The third and final leg of PM Modi’s three-nation tour is Oman. After his Ethiopia trip, he will be back in West Asia. This is going to be his second trip to Oman since 2018.
India and Oman are celebrating 70 years of diplomatic ties.
PM Modi, accompanied by a high-level delegation, will be in Oman from December 17–18, when the two countries are expected to sign a free trade agreement.
Discussions between the two countries on an FTA, officially called the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), began in November 2023, with the talks concluding this year.
Earlier, the Union Cabinet green-lit the FTA ahead of PM Modi’s visit. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal could also visit Oman for the signing of the pact.
The Shura Council or Majlis A'Shura of Oman has also cleared the agreement.
Highlighting the importance of the trip, the MEA said on Friday (December 12) that several agreements are expected to be signed between the two nations.
"We are all very optimistic about the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The teams from both sides have been working very hard for its early finalisation, and we have, we are working towards it. I can inform you that a number of documents that are expected to be signed during the visit are in the last stages of their finalisation," the ministry said.
India enjoys close trade ties with Oman, which is New Delhi's third-largest export destination among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Economic and commercial relations between the two countries remain robust, with bilateral trade during the financial year 2024-25 reaching US$10.613 billion.
India has had a similar agreement with another GCC member, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), since May 2022.
India and Oman plan to bolster bilateral cooperation, with a focus on economic and strategic partnerships.
Muscat has reportedly offered to supply spares of the Jaguar aircraft, previously used by their Royal Air Force, to India.
The Royal Air Force of Oman has retired its Jaguar jets and the delivery of their spares could happen soon.
"The Royal Air Force of Oman used to operate Jaguar jets, but they were retired from their service some time back. They have many spares of these aircraft, which they would be willing to transfer to us in the near future and we are expecting that the supplies of those spare parts are likely to come in the coming days," Arun Kumar Chatterjee, a secretary in the MEA, said.
Oman is India's closest defence partner in the Gulf region. Defence cooperation has become a key component of the strategic partnership between the two nations. Oman is the first Gulf country with which all three wings of India's armed forces hold joint exercises.
The MEA has expressed hope that the hydrocarbon cooperation between India and Oman will continue.
Defence, energy, technology, trade, food security and connectivity will be high on the agenda as PM Modi arrives in Oman next week. The expected announcement of the FTA could further uplift the India-Oman relations.
With inputs from agencies
The visit aims to enhance India’s trade and security ties with the three nations as well as bolster its strategic presence in West Asia and Africa. A free trade agreement (FTA) between India and Oman is also likely in the cards during Modi’s trip.
Let’s take a closer look.
PM Modi’s Jordan visit
PM Modi will kick-start his three-nation tour with a visit to Jordan for his first bilateral trip to the country. He will be in the West Asian nation from December 15-16 at the invitation of King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein.
The Indian premier will meet King Abdullah II to assess the “entire gamut of relations between India and Jordan, and exchange perspectives on regional issues,” according to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
The discussions will also reportedly focus on counterterrorism, energy partnerships and rising economic opportunities amid a geopolitical shift in West Asia.
The visit comes as India and Jordan mark 75 years of the establishment of their diplomatic relations.
PM Modi and King Abdullah are expected to address the India-Jordan business event.
“India and Jordan also share strong economic ties, with India being the third largest trading partner of Jordan, and the bilateral trade between the two countries is valued at $2.8 billion,” the MEA said.
Jordan has also enhanced connectivity with India in recent times.
"Royal Jordanian has recently started direct flights between Amman and Mumbai and plans to expand its operations to New Delhi. Jordan provides a tourist visa on arrival to Indian tourists," the ministry added.
Prime Minister @narendramodi will embark on a visit to #Jordan from 15-16 December.
- Neena Malhotra, Secretary South, @MEAIndia pic.twitter.com/97XBtJMW55
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) December 12, 2025
During his trip, PM Modi will interact with the vibrant Indian community. The West Asian country is home to nearly 17,000 Indians, with many employed in the garment sector, as per the Indian Embassy in Amman.
According to the MEA, Modi’s trip aims to further boost “India-Jordan bilateral engagement, explore new avenues of collaboration for mutual growth and prosperity, and reiterate our commitment to promote regional peace, prosperity, security and stability.”
PM Modi’s Africa push
After Jordan, PM Modi will head to Ethiopia for a state visit from December 16-17. The Indian leader’s first visit to the East African nation will strive to enhance bilateral ties.
Modi will hold wide-ranging talks with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali on several sectors, including agriculture, investment and development cooperation. The duo had met on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Johannesburg in 2023.
"Ethiopia is an important and trusted partner in the Global South and the African context. The current visit reflects India's commitment towards deepening South-South Cooperation and strengthening our partnership with Africa," the MEA said.
This will be Modi’s third trip to Africa this year, which is aimed at strengthening India’s position as a leader of the Global South, people familiar with the matter told Economic Times (ET).
"India and Ethiopia share a long history of partnership in the sector of education, skilling and capacity building. India has been offering scholarship and training opportunities to Ethiopian students and professionals through iTech and ICCR scholarships," the MEA said.
Ethiopia, which joined BRICS in 2023, is one of India's biggest development partners in Africa. India is also among the East African country’s top three investment partners, with investment in various fields such as agriculture and floriculture, engineering, plastics, manufacturing, cotton and textile,
About 650 Indian companies have licensed investments of over $5 billion in Ethiopia.
Trade will be a major agenda during PM Modi's visit. India is Ethiopia’s second-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade clocking $571.52 million during 2023-24, according to India's Department of Commerce.
"The visit will also help consolidate cooperation across a broad spectrum of areas, including economy, trade, culture, and people-to-people contacts. On the economic front, discussions are expected to focus on diversifying trade, enhancing connectivity and identifying new opportunities for investment in infrastructure, IT, mining, agriculture, and manufacturing," MEA Secretary (South) Dr Neena Malhotra was quoted as saying by
During his visit, PM Modi will also meet the Indian diaspora in Ethiopia. The Indian community has a notable presence in Ethiopia's education sector, with about 150 Indians in faculty positions at universities and higher educational institutions.
In Africa, Ethiopia is among the largest recipients of long-term concessional credit from India. New Delhi has sanctioned lines of credit of more than $1 billion to Ethiopia for different sectors.
Modi’s last stop: Oman
The third and final leg of PM Modi’s three-nation tour is Oman. After his Ethiopia trip, he will be back in West Asia. This is going to be his second trip to Oman since 2018.
India and Oman are celebrating 70 years of diplomatic ties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Sultan of Oman Haitham Bin Tariq before their meeting at the Hyderabad House, in New Delhi, December 16, 2023. File Photo/PTI
PM Modi, accompanied by a high-level delegation, will be in Oman from December 17–18, when the two countries are expected to sign a free trade agreement.
Discussions between the two countries on an FTA, officially called the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), began in November 2023, with the talks concluding this year.
Earlier, the Union Cabinet green-lit the FTA ahead of PM Modi’s visit. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal could also visit Oman for the signing of the pact.
The Shura Council or Majlis A'Shura of Oman has also cleared the agreement.
Highlighting the importance of the trip, the MEA said on Friday (December 12) that several agreements are expected to be signed between the two nations.
"We are all very optimistic about the India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The teams from both sides have been working very hard for its early finalisation, and we have, we are working towards it. I can inform you that a number of documents that are expected to be signed during the visit are in the last stages of their finalisation," the ministry said.
India enjoys close trade ties with Oman, which is New Delhi's third-largest export destination among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Economic and commercial relations between the two countries remain robust, with bilateral trade during the financial year 2024-25 reaching US$10.613 billion.
India has had a similar agreement with another GCC member, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), since May 2022.
India and Oman plan to bolster bilateral cooperation, with a focus on economic and strategic partnerships.
Muscat has reportedly offered to supply spares of the Jaguar aircraft, previously used by their Royal Air Force, to India.
The Royal Air Force of Oman has retired its Jaguar jets and the delivery of their spares could happen soon.
"The Royal Air Force of Oman used to operate Jaguar jets, but they were retired from their service some time back. They have many spares of these aircraft, which they would be willing to transfer to us in the near future and we are expecting that the supplies of those spare parts are likely to come in the coming days," Arun Kumar Chatterjee, a secretary in the MEA, said.
Oman is India's closest defence partner in the Gulf region. Defence cooperation has become a key component of the strategic partnership between the two nations. Oman is the first Gulf country with which all three wings of India's armed forces hold joint exercises.
The MEA has expressed hope that the hydrocarbon cooperation between India and Oman will continue.
Defence, energy, technology, trade, food security and connectivity will be high on the agenda as PM Modi arrives in Oman next week. The expected announcement of the FTA could further uplift the India-Oman relations.
With inputs from agencies
