Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a welcome from the Indian diaspora in The Hague on Saturday [2].

This engagement is part of a broader diplomatic effort to strengthen bilateral cooperation and maintain ties with Indian communities living abroad. The visit underscores India's strategic interest in deepening its footprint across Europe.

Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday, May 15, 2026 [1]. The welcome ceremony took place outside the hotel where the Prime Minister was staying, where hundreds of supporters gathered [3].

Attendees greeted the Prime Minister by waving Indian flags and chanting slogans. The event featured a series of cultural and classical performances organized by the community to mark the visit [2].

The interaction in The Hague is a key component of a five-nation [1] tour of Europe. This diplomatic circuit includes visits to the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy, as well as the UAE [4].

The tour focuses on energy and trade cooperation. By engaging with the diaspora, the Indian government aims to leverage the community's influence and professional networks within these host nations to facilitate economic and political goals [5].

“hundreds of supporters gathered”

The scale of the diaspora welcome in The Hague serves as a soft-power tool for India, demonstrating the global reach of the Indian community. By combining high-level bilateral trade talks with public community events, the Indian administration seeks to create a dual-track diplomacy that leverages both official government channels and grassroots cultural influence to secure economic interests in Europe.