Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed gratitude to several international leaders who congratulated him on completing 25 years of continuous service as a head of government, reaffirming India’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic relations, strategic partnerships and cooperation with countries across the world.
The milestone marks a quarter-century since Modi first assumed office as Chief Minister of Gujarat on October 7, 2001, before becoming India’s Prime Minister in 2014.
Responding to congratulatory messages on social media platform X, Modi acknowledged the support of leaders from Nigeria, Dominica, Belgium, the Philippines, Bhutan and Botswana, emphasizing opportunities to expand bilateral cooperation and promote shared economic development.
In his response to Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Modi highlighted the importance of India and Nigeria as influential voices representing developing nations.
He reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the India-Nigeria Strategic Partnership and advancing cooperation on issues affecting the Global South, including economic development, international stability and inclusive growth.
President Tinubu, in an official statement, congratulated Modi on the milestone, recognizing his transition from state-level leadership in Gujarat to leading India on the international stage.
Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit also extended his congratulations, highlighting the longstanding friendship between India and Dominica.
Skerrit expressed appreciation for India’s assistance to his country and emphasized the importance of maintaining strong diplomatic relations.
Modi thanked the Dominican leader for his message and reiterated India’s intention to deepen bilateral cooperation and pursue initiatives benefiting both nations.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever congratulated Modi on his 25 years in government, referring to his recent visit to India and the progress made in strengthening bilateral relations.
Modi welcomed the message and expressed his intention to build on the momentum generated by recent diplomatic engagements.
Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also recognized Modi’s political milestone, highlighting India’s progress in governance, technology, infrastructure and economic development during his leadership.
Marcos emphasized the expanding strategic relationship between India and the Philippines, particularly following the establishment of their Strategic Partnership in 2025.
He also pointed to the Philippines joining the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure as an example of growing cooperation between the two countries.
Looking ahead, Marcos expressed his anticipation of welcoming Modi to Manila for the ASEAN-India and East Asia Summits scheduled for November.
Modi responded by reaffirming India’s commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with the Philippines and expanding engagement across Southeast Asia.
Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay extended his congratulations, reflecting the close diplomatic relationship between the two neighbouring countries.
In his response, Modi emphasized the longstanding partnership between India and Bhutan, built on mutual trust, cooperation and shared development priorities.
He expressed his commitment to advancing India’s vision of Viksit Bharat, or Developed India, alongside Bhutan’s economic growth and prosperity.
Botswana President Duma Boko also congratulated Modi, prompting the Indian Prime Minister to express appreciation for the friendship between India and Botswana.
Modi reaffirmed his intention to strengthen cooperation with the African nation and deepen bilateral relations.
The messages from international leaders highlighted India’s expanding diplomatic engagement across Africa, Europe, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean.
Throughout the exchanges, Modi emphasized strategic cooperation, economic partnerships and India’s role in advancing the interests of developing countries.
The anniversary also comes as India continues to pursue stronger international partnerships through trade, infrastructure development, technology cooperation and multilateral diplomacy.
Modi’s completion of 25 years as a head of government marks a political journey spanning his tenure as Gujarat Chief Minister and more than a decade as India’s Prime Minister, during which the country has expanded its engagement with international partners.
