Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Historic Visit to Austria After 41 Years

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Austria on July 9, marking the first visit by an Indian PM in 41 years. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer expressed excitement, highlighting the visit’s significance as it coincides with 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Austria.

Chancellor Nehammer said, “I very much look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, the world’s largest democracy, next week in Vienna. This visit is a special honour as it marks the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in over forty years, and a significant milestone as we celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations with India.”

The visit aims to deepen bilateral ties and address regional and global issues. PM Modi will meet Austria’s President Alexander Van der Bellen and engage in high-level talks. This visit follows Modi’s trip to Russia from July 8-10.

India and Austria have a long history of diplomatic relations, with several notable visits between the two nations. Former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Indian leader to visit Austria in 1955 to meet then-Austrian Chancellor Julius Raab. In November 1999, the then Indian President KR Narayanan made India’s first state visit to Austria, after which, in 2011, ex-President Pratibha Patil travelled to the country. The last Indian Prime Minister to visit Austria was Indira Gandhi in 1983. She had also visited the country in 1971.