Come May, PM all set to visit 7 nations

Simran Sodhi

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 24

The coming few months will see Prime Minister Narendra Modi indulging in some hectic diplomatic activity.

The Prime Minister is likely to visit at least seven nations in the coming months. The two high-profile visits are the ones to Israel, which will reset the clock on India’s relationship with Israel and Palestine; the second will be the PM’s likely visit to the US in May to meet US President Donald Trump. Sources said while the Israel trip is already scheduled, the dates for the US trip are still being worked out.

The other countries Modi is likely to visit will be Sri Lanka, where he travels next month, Russia, Spain, Germany and Kazakhstan.

First, the Prime Minister will travel to St Petersburg in Russia to attend the International Economic Forum (SPIEF) from June 1 to 3. He is then likely to visit Spain.

After that, the PM will visit Kazakhstan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) meet in Astana on June 7-8. At the upcoming SCO meet, both India and Pakistan will be admitted as full members.

Since Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif is also likely to attend the SCO Summit, the speculation is that a possible meeting or an unscheduled pull aside between the two leaders may take place.