narendra modi visit in israel

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Modi in Israel: All that happened during PM’s historic trip

Narendra modi became the first prime minister from india to visit israel in the last 70 years. seven agreements were signed between the two countries. post his three day historic visit to israel, the prime minister is scheduled to fly to germany to attend the g20 summit..

Prime Minister Narendra Modi who was on a three-day visit to Israel concluded his trip on Thursday. The tour was historic not only because Modi is the first sitting Indian Prime Minister to visit the Jewish state but also because significant agreements were signed between India and Israel that could be beneficial to both the countries in the long run. Here is everything that happened on Modi’s Israel visit.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu himself was at the Ben Gurion Airport to receive Modi when he landed there on Tuesday. The Indian Prime Minister was given a grand official welcome and was warmly embraced by Netanyahu who told Modi, “Aapka swagat hai mere dost.” Modi also thanked his Israeli counterpart for receiving him and emphasised that India considers Israel as an important development partner. He also hailed the sacrifices of Yonatan Netanyahu who was killed during Operation Entebbe.

From the airport, Modi headed to Danziger “Dan” Flower Farm. Here he got a flower named after him as a token of remembrance. He also visited Yad Vashem, the Hall of Names, attended the memorial ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance, toured the Children’s Memorial and signed the Yad Vashem Guest Book. He also made an unscheduled stop at Mt. Herzl in Jerusalem to pay respect to the modern zionism founder.

On the second day, PM Modi met President Reuven Rivlin in Jerusalem and recalled Israel’s First Citizen’s visit to India last year. “The President of Israel welcomed me so warmly, he broke protocol. This is a mark of respect for the people of India,” PM Modi tweeted. Hailing the ties between the two nations, Modi said, “I for I. Which means India for Israel and Israel for India.” Later he met Benjamin Netanyahu over talks to enhance ties between the two countries. Both the ministers addressed the media for a joint statement in which they focused on terrorism called for global cooperation in fighting the menace.

In a special gesture, PM Modi met Moshe Holtzberg, the Israeli child who survived the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, and invited him to India. He also met Moshe’s Indian nanny Sandra Samuels, who managed to escape with the child when the terrorists attacked.

Benjamin Netanyahu called Modi’s visit groundbreaking and said that he sees ‘history in making’ in their talks. India and Israel then signed seven agreements in key areas like space, water management, energy and agriculture. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed to set up $40 million worth India-Israel Industrial Research and Development (R&D) and Technical Innovation Fund.

Two agreements were signed in the sector to increase cooperation on water conservation and state water utility reform in India. Both the countries also agreed for India-Israle Development Coopeartion, a three year work programme in the agriculture sector. They also launched a five-year technology fund.

Later PM Modi addressed the Indian community in Isreal at Tel Aviv Convention Centre. During the meeting, Modi announced that Israeli citizens of Indian origin would be given Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cards, even if they have served in the Israeli military. He also promised direct flights connecting the two countries. “The Jewish community has enriched India with their contribution in various fields. Israel has shown that more than size, it is the spirit that matters. Our ties with Israel are about mutual trust and friendship,” Modi said.

PM Modi also announced that an Indian Cultural Centre would be set up in Israel. He also invited the Israeli companies to come and participate in the ‘Make in India’ initiative of the government. He emphasised on the ease of doing business in India which had recently adpoted GST.

Prime Minister Modi gifted replicas of two sets of relics from Kerala that are “regarded as key artifacts in the long Jewish history in India” to his Israeli counterpart. Modi also presented him with a Torah scroll donated by the Paradesi Jewish community in Kerala and a metal crown from South India.

The two leaders made a joint statement on varied fields like terrorism, technology and defence. On the developments pertaining to the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process, the leaders reaffirmed their support for an early negotiated solution based on mutual recognition and security arrangements.

On the last day of his trip, PM Modi along with PM Netanyahu paid homage to the soldiers in Haifa. He laid a wreath at the cemetery that contains the graves of Indian soldiers who had died during the First World War. He also unveiled a plaque commemorating Major Dalpat Singh, known as the ‘Hero of Haifa’ for his critical role in the liberation of the city.

Later he visited Dor Beach with his Israeli counterpart. Both the leaders were seen enjoying the light breeze at the beach. Modi was also given a demonstration of a mobile seawater desalination unit.

Later the Israeli Prime Minister hosted the Indian Prime Minister for a special luncheon with Israeli and Indian business leaders. PM Netanyahu also gifted Modi a picture of them strolling at the beach as a token of his visit. The Indian Prime Minister concluded his trip by interacting with Indian students in Tel Aviv. He was bid farewell by PM Benjamin Netanyahu in a ceremony at Ben Gurion International Airport.

Thank you my friend, PM @netanyahu for the signed photo, your kind words, amazing hospitality & passion towards #IndiaIsraelFriendship . pic.twitter.com/1jUtMG3F85 — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 6, 2017

Post his historic visit to Israel, the prime minister is scheduled to fly to Germany to attend the G20 Summit.

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• Narendra Modi
• Reuven Rivlin

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LIVE: PM Narendra Modi Has Good News For Israelis Of Indian Origin

PM Narendra Modi and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu at Tel Aviv Convention Centre.

Here is the live coverage of PM Narendra Modi's 3-day visit to Israel:

PM announces flight to connect Delhi-Mumbai-Tel Aviv. Says young Israelis would be especially welcome in India - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

PM announces OCI card for those Indian origin persons who have done compulsory military service in Israel pic.twitter.com/0KBF5yOwqD - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

🇮🇱 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/2JEtjAVWpY - Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) July 5, 2017

With the aim of 'housing for all' we have placed emphasis on the construction and the real estate sector: PM @narendramodi - PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 5, 2017

With GST we are aiming towards the economic integration of India: PM @narendramodi - PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 5, 2017

We have introduced 100% FDI in key sectors, which will help our economy: PM @narendramodi - PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 5, 2017

Jewish community has enriched India with their contribution in various fields: PM @narendramodi - PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 5, 2017

Mayors of various Israeli cities have also joined us today. Their love for India has drawn them here, I thank them: PM @narendramodi - PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 5, 2017

Celebrating the cultural linkages btw #IsraelIndia . The leaders visit Jewish museum, examine exhibits dedicated to India's jewish heritage pic.twitter.com/hZZLLuJDoF - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

The photo depicts Indian soldiers leading a British military column to librate Jerusalem (December 11, 1917). pic.twitter.com/cgnZS590Iq - PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 5, 2017

Living bridges of excellence between #IndiaIsrael . PM meets three Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awardees from Israel pic.twitter.com/ze1laYZoD8 - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

An emotional moment reminiscent of horrific terrorist attack. PM @narendramodi meets Moshe, the boy who survived 26/11 Mumbai attack in 2008 pic.twitter.com/YH9cQqjo3R - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

PM ends:Tomorrow I will travel to Haifa to pay homage to brave Indian soldiers.It has been a productive & memorable 24 hours in🇮🇱. Shalom! - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

We also discussed the situation in West Asia and the wider region. It is India's hope that peace, dialogue and restraint will prevail: PM - PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 5, 2017

Prime Minister @netanyahu and I agreed to do much more together to protect our strategic interests: PM @narendramodi #IndiaIsraelFriendship - PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 5, 2017

PM @netanyahu calls PM's visit groundbreaking and emphasises that he sees history in making in his talks w PM - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

PM mentions his stay n interactions in Israel since y'day reflect trust n clarity in the unfolding chapter in rlns - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

PM begins delgn talks w exprsng thanks to PM @netanyahu for hosting d historic visit n playing a crucial role in writing imp chapter in rlns - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

Expanding perspectives. PM @narendramodi and PM @netanyahu before start of restricted talks pic.twitter.com/Wf2FIZZAzY - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

Taking yesterday's discussions forward. PM @narendramodi and PM @netanyahu meet for restricted talks in Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/ytZbz7pkcB - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

Beginning the morning with the First Citizen! Day 2 in Jerusalem starts with PM @narendramodi calling on President @PresidentRuvi pic.twitter.com/u62W6mT6xI - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

PM recalls that Prez Rivlin's phrase 'Make with India' is echoed in Israel and has percolates to all levels pic.twitter.com/mk6cqQ8lBs - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 5, 2017

The President of Israel welcomed me so warmly, he broke protocol. This is a mark of respect for the people of India: PM @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/r6eFdlrYwz - PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 5, 2017

PM begins statement before dinner with PM Netanyahu:I thank my good friend PM @Netanyahu & Mrs Sara fr opening their home to me today pic.twitter.com/T6yWENjnyB - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 4, 2017

PM Netanyahu and @PMOIndia Modi visited @yadvashem . The two leaders toured the Hall of Names and participated in a memorial ceremony. pic.twitter.com/wT796pBOHt - PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) July 4, 2017

Before departing the Yad Vashem complex the leaders visited the Grave of Theodor Herzl - Chozeh HaMedinah(lit. "Visionary of the State") pic.twitter.com/J8e4GAtJul - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 4, 2017

So that the light of humanity always shines through us. PM pays homage to 6 million lives lost in the Holocaust at Yad Vashem Memorial pic.twitter.com/qeRnTB518t - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 4, 2017

New fast-growing Israeli Crysanthumun flower named in honor of PM @narendramodi and will be called "MODI". Indeed, a #GrowingPartnership ! pic.twitter.com/xj00nW2yUk - Israel ישראל (@Israel) July 4, 2017

Reaffirming potential of deeper cooperation in Agriculture! PMs visit Danziger Flower farm-a leading facility for R&D in plant varieties pic.twitter.com/4Krb4lUu25 - Gopal Baglay (@MEAIndia) July 4, 2017

"When it comes to Israel- #India relations, the sky is the limit!" - @IsraeliPM #ModiInIsrael #GrowingPartnership pic.twitter.com/cyDJ5vLsrz - Israel Foreign Min. (@IsraelMFA) July 4, 2017

#ModiInIsrael | Welcome, my friend, we love India, says @IsraeliPM @netanyahu to PM @narendramodi https://t.co/pWqrVdELeN - NDTV (@ndtv) July 4, 2017

Partners for peace and prosperity, partners for a better future for humanity...PM @netanyahu welcomes PM @narendramodi to Israel. pic.twitter.com/mZgl8pAqz2 - PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017

India is an old civilisation but young nation. We have a talented and skilled youth, who are our driving force: PM @narendramodi - PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017

I am confident of the real mathematics of life, of success of our partnership for many reasons; talent of our people: Israeli PM pic.twitter.com/7ES4CrP3FQ - ANI (@ANI_news) July 4, 2017

Eagle has landed. #ModiInIsrael pic.twitter.com/PaanwOGD8x - vijeta uniyal (@iUniyal) July 4, 2017

PM Narendra Modi arrives in Israel in the first-ever visit to the country by an Indian PM pic.twitter.com/UDwLMfKFaL - ANI (@ANI_news) July 4, 2017

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Modi ends historic three-day visit to Israel

Follow the jerusalem post for the latest coverage of indian prime minister narendra modi's israel visit..

PM Netanyahu and @PMOIndia @narendramodi attend a demonstration of a mobile seawater desalination unit. pic.twitter.com/FLhZsScgXM — PM of Israel (@IsraeliPM) July 6, 2017

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How India Became Pro-Israel

W hen Hamas launched its unprecedented attack against Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people , Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, like most world leaders, condemned Hamas’s horrific actions and expressed “solidarity with Israel at this difficult hour.” But the Modi government’s approach in the days and weeks that followed have set it apart from many non-Western peers. That divergence notably includes India abstaining from a U.N. resolution on Oct. 27 that called for a “humanitarian truce” (120 countries voted in favor).

India’s approach has surprised many observers for various reasons. First, the Indian government’s relative quiet about the plight of Palestinians in Gaza as the death toll tops 11,000 marks a departure from its consistent support for Palestinians since 1948. Even in the recent past, as India and Israel developed defense and commercial ties, New Delhi’s support for Israel was tempered by its historical ties. Second, through its presidency of the G-20 in 2023, India signaled its ambition to represent the voice of the Global South and ensure the developing world’s concerns get heard.

Historically, India has had a very different relationship with Israelis and Palestinians. During India’s struggle for independence from the British, the Indian anti-colonial movement supported Palestinian nationalists and India proposed a plan in 1947 to create an independent federal state of Palestine (with constitutional safeguards for the Jewish minority). The reasons were complex, stemming in part from the unease of India’s post-colonial, nationalist elites about the wisdom of creating what they perceived to be a settler state in the erstwhile British Mandate for Palestine. Consequently, when the U.N. General Assembly passed a resolution in 1947 that recommended establishing the State of Israel alongside a Palestinian one, a newly independent India was one of the few non-Arab countries that voted against the measure.

Pragmatic considerations shaped India’s position. Indian leaders felt that they could not endorse a state that was founded on religious grounds, especially coming so soon after the violent Partition of India in 1947 that led to Pakistan’s creation, an outcome that they had staunchly opposed.

India formally recognized Israel in 1950. But Indo-Israeli contacts were limited given Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru’s fear of stirring opposition, particularly from Indian Muslims. At the time, India also wanted to present itself as a standard-bearer against colonialism and to demonstrate its solidarity with newly decolonized Arab states, which were being courted by Pakistan. In 1974, India became the first non-Arab country to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization as the “sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.” India again claimed another first when it became the first non-Arab country to recognize the State of Palestine when the PLO proclaimed it in 1988.

It was not until 1992 that India granted full diplomatic recognition to Israel, including the opening of the Israeli Embassy in New Delhi. With the Cold War over and the impending Oslo Accords—which sought rapprochement between Israel and the Palestinians—India chose to end its policy of keeping Israel at a calculated distance. Since then, the Indo-Israeli relationship has developed steadily, especially when it comes to defense cooperation. A turning point came in 1999 when India went to war with Pakistan over the disputed Kashmir region and Israel demonstrated its willingness to provide arms and ammunition. In recent years, India has purchased about $2 billion worth of weapons annually from Israel. India has bought missiles, drones, bombs, and border-security equipment, and is now the Israeli defense industry’s biggest foreign customer.

Modi’s election in 2014 put the Indo-Israeli rapprochement into higher gear. While previous governments had made sure to keep their dealings with Israel largely silent, the Modi government has been public in its engagement with Israel. Modi was the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel in 2017, which was reciprocated when Netanyahu traveled to Delhi in 2018. The ideological alignment between the two right-wing leaders has certainly been more apparent than with previous governments. Members of Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party have long regarded Israel as a model religious-nationalist state to potentially build on, in contrast to India’s founding as a secular and multi-religious one.

Still, India has reaffirmed its support for the Palestinian cause in recent years. Modi became the first Indian Prime Minister in 2018 to visit Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. India has also increased its donations to the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. These various gestures were meant to remind both internal and external audiences of India’s complicated stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

India’s tilt toward Israel encompasses growing trade and defense cooperation, ideological and leadership affinities, and a focus on counter-terrorism cooperation. But India is aware of potential diplomatic costs and Modi has spoken to various Arab Gulf leaders to coordinate positions; earlier this month, India voted in favor of a U.N. General Assembly resolution that condemned Israeli settlements in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Golan Heights.

The challenge for India ahead is maintaining the strategic defense and commercial ties with Israel while navigating its role as a Global South leader. It is a tight rope to walk.

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‘Jordan, Palestine, Israel united in sky for Modi’: Watch PM’s big, bold interview

In an exclusive interview with India Today TV, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recounted how Jordan, Palestine, Israel - countries having different relations with each other - came together when he had to fly to Palestine through Jordan.

PM Modi said during his recent visit to Jordan, he was invited by the Middle East country's president for dinner. "When the President of Jordan came to know that I am going to Palestine over (the airspace of Jordan), he offered me his helicopter," PM Modi said.

"The helicopter was of Jordan, the destination was Palestine, and I was escorted by Israeli flight attendants. All three are different but for Modi, all came together in the sky. I believe that all this happens when your intentions are good," he said.

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Narendra Modi heads to Israel, lifting the curtain on close ties

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• Historic welcome for a historic visit --> Historic welcome for a historic visit --> Historic welcome for a historic visit

Historic welcome for a historic visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched down to a warm welcome in Tel Aviv, Israel. This marked the beginning of a historic visit by any Indian Prime Minister.

In a special gesture, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu himself received Prime Minister Modi at the airport. Shri Modi was also given a ceremonial welcome at the airport.

My honour to be the 1st ever Indian PM to undertake this ground breaking visit to Israel: PM @narendramodi — PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017

I thank my friend PM @netanyahu for receiving me. My visit is about the strength of our societies and our strong partnership: PM — PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017

India is an old civilisation but young nation. We have a talented and skilled youth, who are our driving force: PM @narendramodi — PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017

We consider Israel an important development partner: PM @narendramodi — PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017

We have to secure our societies against the common threat of terrorism: PM @narendramodi — PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017

This is an exciting journey that we will undertake together, for the good of our people and our society: PM @narendramodi to PM @netanyahu — PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017

Partners for peace and prosperity, partners for a better future for humanity...PM @netanyahu welcomes PM @narendramodi to Israel. pic.twitter.com/mZgl8pAqz2 — PMO India (@PMOIndia) July 4, 2017

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India’s Holistic Growth under the leadership of PM Modi

Thanks to #PMModi , our highways have gotten a major upgrade! They're not just roads anymore, they're like super highways connecting us all. Traveling has become smoother and faster, making life easier for all of us. 🚗🛣️ #ModiEra #BetterRoads pic.twitter.com/XSGRrgQHUa — Manika Rawat (@manikarawa46306) May 18, 2024

India's forex reserves continue to soar, reaching $644.15 billion in 2024, thanks to prudent economic policies under PM @narendramodi With FCAs on the rise, India's financial strength remains robust. https://t.co/lW36iMf7Tx — Prerna Sharma (@PrernaS99946384) May 18, 2024

Absolute engineering marvel & unparallel infrastructural push ! Views is a plus +. All credit to PM @narendramodi Ji & @Dev_Fadnavis ji . Ask a mumbaikar who had to shuffle between Navi Mumbai - Colaba and SantaCruz ! My ailing parents can’t thank you both enough, visiting… pic.twitter.com/JXFrC8zPc1 — Sujata Pandey 🇮🇳 (@sujatapandeyb) May 18, 2024

Global interest in the Indian economy is a result of focused initiatives taken by the government over several years to build a strong foundation for growth and is very encouraging for local industry: Sanjiv Puri Kudos Team @narendramodi 👏👏 https://t.co/BUNYMXbj9F pic.twitter.com/0vzPI2wwrA — दिनेश चावला (मोदी का परिवार) (@iDineshChawlaa) May 18, 2024

Under PM Modi's leadership, the Indian Army has cut ammunition imports, boosting local production under Make in India. This strengthens national security and self-reliance. Thank you, PM Modi! https://t.co/gnt0je4OxC — Shivam Verma (@vshivam2244) May 18, 2024

Under PM Modi's leadership, India is poised to become the 3rd largest economy by 2027-28, as noted by Arvind Panagariya. With significant strides in reducing extreme rural poverty, India's growth story is remarkable. Thank you, PM Modi, for driving this economic transformation… — Pooja Singla (@SinglaPooja3) May 18, 2024

India's 2024 economic growth projection revised upwards by U.N. to nearly 7% Kudos PM @narendramodi Ji the Indian economy is witnessing robust growth, with contributions from every sector exemplifying the all-round performance of Modi Ji Govt. https://t.co/d5i1BMOw6r @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/CVzLbGw3vj — Zahid Patka (Modi Ka Parivar) (@zahidpatka) May 18, 2024

@narendramodi Thanks for giving us our Kashmir, after abrogation of Article 370 we felt as safe as we are in Delhi. Nice roads. Loving people. Driving in srinagar is like a dream come true. Thanks. @amita Pls fo visit kashmir 😊 #lovekashmir pic.twitter.com/zRH8GmLVaQ — SamirSinha (@samir_sinha) May 18, 2024

Kudos to @narendramodi ji for India's Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme! This initiative will undoubtedly facilitate the manufacturing ecosystem in India, taking #MakeInIndia to the next level. A significant step towards a self-reliant India! #PLI #Manufacturing " — Raman Narwal (@Amanvat78694527) May 18, 2024

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'Didn't publicise it': PM Modi speaks out on Gaza war, ‘Sent my envoy to Israel' ahead of Phase 5 of Lok Sabha polls

P rime Minister Narendra Modi said in an interview with India Today on Thursday, May 16, that he had dispatched a special envoy to Israel during the holy month of Ramzan. The move was to urge the Israeli government to cease bombing in Gaza during the holy month.

While speaking over ongoing global conflicts, PM Modi said, “It was the month of Ramzan. So I sent my special envoy to Israel and asked him to convey and explain to the Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) that at least do not carry out bombings in Gaza during Ramzan.”  

Also read: 'There's sense of pride about where PM Modi has taken the country,' External Affairs Minister Jaishankar amid LS polls.

PM Modi added, “They (Israel) made every effort to follow it, but in the end, there was a fight for two-three days.” 

Modi's comments about halting the bombing in Gaza come at a time when the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are taking place in the country. Elections for the first four phases of seven have already taken place. The upcoming polls for the fifth phase are scheduled for May 20. Polling will take place across 49 Lok Sabha constituencies covering six states and two Union Territories.

Also read: Top Events on May 17: Modi-Kejriwal in Mumbai, IPL 2024, Samsung Galaxy F55 5G launch, and more.

While referring to the Opposition's frequent attacks on him over the “Muslims issue”, PM Modi said, “Here, you keep on cornering me on the Muslims issue, but I didn't publicise it.” 

Meanwhile, Modi said that during the same period, other countries also tried to engage with Israel to stop the bombings. 

He said his ideology doesn't revolve around token secularism, noting that he carried out standalone visits to both Israel and Palestine. He said, “There was a fashion earlier that if one has to go to Israel, a visit to Palestine is a must. Do secularism and come back. But I refused to do it.”

Also read: PM Modi predicts crushing defeat for Congress in Lok Sabha Elections: 'Going to lose so badly that…'

The recent Chabahar Port agreement between India and Iran was also discussed in the interview. Modi reiterated that India would not make any decision based on any second or third party despite US warnings of imposing sanctions on countries who attempted to deal with Iran. The PM said, “We will make decisions for ourselves.” 

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Why voters in southern India are more resistant to Modi’s Hindu-centric politics

A boy holds a placard at a rally for Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party leader and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu state, M. K. Stalin, in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has wielded near-total control over Indian politics since coming to power ten years ago, with one exception: He has failed to win over the country’s wealthier southern region. Five states across southern India account for roughly 20 percent of the country’s population and 30 percent of its economy. They are the heartbeat of India’s manufacturing and high-tech sectors. (AP video by Shonal Ganguly)

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Giant cutouts of opposition political party leaders tower over supporters during a rally, on the outskirts of the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Supporters welcome Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party candidate Thamizhachi Thangapandian, riding an open-roofed tuk-tuk, during an election roadshow in Chennai, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Children watch Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party candidate Dayanidhi Maran’s election roadshow pass through their residential area in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Members of a local band stand next to cutouts of Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, as they wait for her arrival for an election campaign rally, in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan, center, holds up a sword during an election campaign rally in Chennai, in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

A supporter of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party holds a mace, used as a weapon by Hindu god Hanuman, as he shouts slogans during an election campaign rally addressed by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the northern Indian city of Meerut, March 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Supporters rest by a large cut out of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader and Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu state, M. K. Stalin, following an election rally in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

M. K. Stalin, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party leader, speaks on a stage resembling the Indian parliament building during an election campaign rally on the outskirts of the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister of the southern Indian state of Kerala, speaks during a protest against the federal government in New Delhi, India, Feb. 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

A Muslim woman and a boy walk past portraits of elephant-headed Hindu God Ganesha, Jesus Christ and Islam’s holy sites of Mecca and Medina, in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Newly wed Dileep Kumar, right, walks with his bride Narayani outside in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 15, 2024. Kumar, a computer engineer in Bengaluru, said voters in Tamil Nadu are wary that the ruling party of Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants to impose Hindi language on the state. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Flower vendors set up their shops as devotees walk outside Mylapore temple in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 15, 2024. Southern India is home to some of the country’s most visited temples and has millions of Hindu devotees. What sets it apart, experts say, is that religion hasn’t been weaponized for political gain. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Devotees perform rituals inside Mylapore temple in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 15, 2024. Southern India is home to some of the country’s most visited temples and has millions of Hindu devotees. What sets it apart, experts say, is that religion hasn’t been weaponized for political gain. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

An elderly man reads a newspaper in an alleyway in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Fishermen transport fish their catch from a boat at a harbor in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

A man walks past as an elderly woman reading reads a newspaper outside a small temple by the street in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

A mother and daughter enjoy a ride on Marina beach in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

A vendor roasts corn on the cob for people visiting Marina beach in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

FILE- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi displays the Bharatiya Janata Party symbol during an election road show in the southern Indian city of Chennai, India, Tuesday, April 9, 2024. (AP Photo/File)

A man takes a photograph of his son enjoying a ride at Marina beach in the southern Indian city of Chennai, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

CHENNAI, India (AP) — Prime Minister Narendra Modi has wielded near-total control over Indian politics since coming to power 10 years ago, with one exception: He has failed to win over the country’s wealthier southern region.

Five states across southern India account for roughly 20% of the country’s population and 30% of its economy. They are the heartbeat of India’s manufacturing and high-tech sectors. They are ethnically diverse and proudly multilingual. They empower women with educational and employment opportunities and have a long history of progressive politics.

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Not one of them is controlled by Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party — a stark rejection of its Hindu-nationalist agenda that enjoys wide support in northern India.

The BJP is expected to win India’s election when results are announced in June, delivering Modi another five years as prime minister. But the odds are also high of strong resistance in the south. That would deny Modi his ambition of uniting all of India behind him and limit how far he can push the BJP agenda of promoting one religion and language over others.

“If you conceive of a Hindi-speaking, unified civilization as the reason you exist, then that becomes a significant barrier for you to cross,” data scientist and political analyst Neelakantan R.S. said.

Voters and leaders of India’s southern states have different needs than their counterparts in the north, which is more rural and populous. One thing they want is greater recognition from the Modi government of the key role their region plays in advancing the country’s economy.

They feel their outsized contribution to India’s tax base is betrayed by Modi’s preferential treatment for poorer northern states, which receive a disproportionate amount of government funds for development projects and social welfare programs.

Modi’s injection of religion into politics only exacerbates tensions with many southern voters.

Despite the strong opposition, Modi is campaigning aggressively in the south. His goal is for the BJP to win enough seats in the lower house of parliament to secure a two-thirds majority. That much power could embolden the party to try changing the constitution to serve its Hindu-centric goals, political analyst Kavitha Muralidharan said.

“A super majority is what they need to launch a full-scale, pan-India, Hindutva experiment,” Muralidharan said, referring to the century-old ideology guiding Modi.

MODI’S SOUTHERN STRATEGY

Modi has made some 20 trips this year to five southern states: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Telangana. They control roughly a quarter of the 543 seats in the lower house of parliament — and if the BJP can win just a few more than the 29 seats it won from these states in 2019, its super majority is within reach.

But experts are skeptical this will happen because southern voters have deep connections to regional political parties that have dominated for decades and are the BJP’s toughest electoral opponents nationwide.

Modi is heavily focused on the southernmost state, Tamil Nadu, where the BJP did not win any of its 39 seats up for grabs in the 2019 election.

On a recent visit there, Modi wore the region’s traditional white silk garment -- a veshti -- wrapped around his lower body, and he used artificial intelligence software to have his speeches translated in real-time from Hindi to Tamil.

“As the world’s oldest language, Tamil fills us with immense pride,” Modi said recently, making an apparent effort to tamp down rumors that the BJP wants to impose the Hindi language on the state.

Still, Dileep Kumar, a computer engineer in Bengaluru, said voters in Tamil Nadu are wary. “I can’t go and say to a Hindi guy, brother, please quit your Hindi and start talking in Tamil. That’s not going to work, will it?” he said.

One BJP candidate running for parliament in the state’s capital of Chennai believes the party has its best shot in years at gaining support.

“His frequent visits are helping us,” Tamilisai Soundararajan said. “People here were electrified when they saw the prime minister.”

But the incumbent she’s up against is doubtful. Hindu-centric politics won’t resonate in a place with a long history of social justice and equal rights movements, said Thamizhachi Thangapandian, a retired college professor who is a member of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party, the BJP’s strongest rival in Tamil Nadu.

The beat of drums and firecrackers welcomed Thangapandian as she greeted voters recently riding an open-roofed tuk-tuk through Chennai’s alleyways. The achievements of her party blared through a set of speakers, including a reference to keeping out the “religion crazy” BJP.

Modi routinely mentions on the campaign trail the recent construction of a Hindu temple atop a razed mosque, but the issue doesn’t animate voters in southern India like it does elsewhere.

Southern India is home to some of the country’s most visited temples and has millions of Hindu devotees. What sets it apart, experts say, is that religion hasn’t been weaponized for political gain.

“People are religious here,” said Muralidharan, the political analyst. “But it doesn’t convert into a frenzy.”

The BJP’s religious zealotry makes leaders in the region nervous because of its potential to create a “disturbance to the peace” in a place with a global reputation as a good place to do business, said G Sundarrajan, a robotics entrepreneur in Chennai, where Hyundai and Foxconn (the maker of Apple iPhones) have located factories.

“Investors prefer Tamil Nadu precisely because its peaceful, has a large educated labor force and support from local government,” he said.

Modi tempers his Hindu-nationalist rhetoric while visiting the south, focusing his speeches instead on economics. For example, he has promised to build a high-speed rail line that would run through southern India and to help develop fisheries and auto manufacturing.

TENSION OVER REDISTRIBUTING WEALTH

The economy of southern India is more industrialized than the north, its cities are more urbanized, and its youth are more educated.

Southern Indian cities have also become a magnet for global technology companies seeking to diversify beyond China, including Apple and Google. The vast potential for India’s economy, now the world’s fifth-largest, is a point of pride for Modi.

But political leaders in southern India feel short-changed by Modi.

Tamil Nadu, India’s second-wealthiest state, receives far less in return for every rupee in taxes it pays compared with poorer northern states like Uttar Pradesh or Bihar, which receive government investments equal to two or three times the amount they pay in taxes.

This tension over the redistribution of wealth from south to north existed long before Modi came to power. But the BJP has made it worse.

Southern leaders believe Modi’s priorities lie in the north, where he derives the bulk of his support. They worry that the BJP government will snatch away even more decision-making power from states if their majority grows, said Muralidharan.

Southern leaders have protested against the Modi government for holding up development funding, for misusing federal agencies to target political opponents in the region, and for not sending enough emergency relief after natural disasters.

And they believe their fight against the BJP and Modi is existential.

“In southern India, the threat of being reduced to a vassal state is a serious problem,” said Neelakantan, the political analyst.

Pathi reported from New Delhi.

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'Didn't publicise it': PM Modi speaks out on Gaza war, ‘Sent my envoy to Israel' ahead of Phase 5 of Lok Sabha polls

Prime minister narendra modi reveals dispatching an envoy to israel during ramzan to halt gaza bombings. he affirms independent stance on chabahar port deal despite us warnings..

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in an interview with India Today on Thursday, May 16, that he had dispatched a special envoy to Israel during the holy month of Ramzan. The move was to urge the Israeli government to cease bombing in Gaza during the holy month.

While speaking over ongoing global conflicts, PM Modi said, “It was the month of Ramzan. So I sent my special envoy to Israel and asked him to convey and explain to the Prime Minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) that at least do not carry out bombings in Gaza during Ramzan."  

Also read: 'There's sense of pride about where PM Modi has taken the country,' External Affairs Minister Jaishankar amid LS polls.

PM Modi added, “They (Israel) made every effort to follow it, but in the end, there was a fight for two-three days." 

Modi's comments about halting the bombing in Gaza come at a time when the 2024 Lok Sabha elections are taking place in the country. Elections for the first four phases of seven have already taken place. The upcoming polls for the fifth phase are scheduled for May 20. Polling will take place across 49 Lok Sabha constituencies covering six states and two Union Territories.

Also read: Top Events on May 17: Modi-Kejriwal in Mumbai, IPL 2024, Samsung Galaxy F55 5G launch, and more.

While referring to the Opposition's frequent attacks on him over the “Muslims issue", PM Modi said, “Here, you keep on cornering me on the Muslims issue, but I didn't publicise it." 

Meanwhile, Modi said that during the same period, other countries also tried to engage with Israel to stop the bombings. 

He said his ideology doesn't revolve around token secularism, noting that he carried out standalone visits to both Israel and Palestine. He said, “There was a fashion earlier that if one has to go to Israel, a visit to Palestine is a must. Do secularism and come back. But I refused to do it."

Also read: PM Modi predicts crushing defeat for Congress in Lok Sabha Elections: 'Going to lose so badly that…'

The recent Chabahar Port agreement between India and Iran was also discussed in the interview. Modi reiterated that India would not make any decision based on any second or third party despite US warnings of imposing sanctions on countries who attempted to deal with Iran. The PM said, “We will make decisions for ourselves." 

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Elon Musk’s Diplomacy: Woo Right-Wing World Leaders. Then Benefit.

Mr. Musk has built a constellation of like-minded heads of state — including Argentina’s Javier Milei and India’s Narendra Modi — to push his own politics and expand his business empire.

Credit... Cristiana Couceiro

Supported by

By Ryan Mac ,  Jack Nicas and Alex Travelli

Ryan Mac reported from Los Angeles, Jack Nicas from Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro, and Alex Travelli from New Delhi.

• Published May 12, 2024 Updated May 13, 2024

Minutes after it became clear that Javier Milei had been elected president of South America’s second-largest nation in November, Elon Musk posted on X : “Prosperity is ahead for Argentina.”

Since then, Mr. Musk has continued to use X, the social network he owns, to boost Mr. Milei. The billionaire has shared videos of the Argentine president attacking “social justice” with his 182 million followers. One doctored image, which implied that watching a speech by Mr. Milei was better than having sex, is among Mr. Musk’s most viewed posts ever.

Mr. Musk has helped turn the pugnacious libertarian into one of the new faces of the modern right. But offline, he has used the relationship to press for benefits to his other businesses, the electric carmaker Tesla and the rocket company SpaceX.

“Elon Musk called me,” Mr. Milei said in a television interview weeks after taking office. “He is extremely interested in the lithium.”

Mr. Musk has declared lithium — the silvery-white element that is the main component in Tesla’s car batteries — “the new oil.” Tesla has long bought lithium from Argentina, which has the world’s second-largest reserves. Now Mr. Milei is pushing for major benefits for international lithium miners, which would likely give Tesla a more stable — and potentially cheaper — flow of one of its most critical resources.

Mr. Milei is part of a pattern by Mr. Musk of fostering relationships with a constellation of right-wing heads of state, with clear beneficiaries: his companies and himself.

Mr. Musk, 52, has repeatedly used one piece of his business empire — X, formerly known as Twitter — to vocally support politicians like Mr. Milei, Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil and Narendra Modi of India. On the platform, Mr. Musk has backed their views on gender, feted their opposition to socialism and aggressively confronted their enemies . Mr. Musk even personally intervened in X’s content policies in ways that appeared to aid Mr. Bolsonaro, two former X employees said.

Mr. Musk, in turn, has pushed for and won corporate advantages for his most lucrative businesses, Tesla and SpaceX, according to an examination by The New York Times. In India, he secured lower import tariffs for Tesla’s vehicles. In Brazil, he opened a major new market for Starlink, SpaceX’s satellite internet service. In Argentina, he solidified access to the mineral most crucial to Tesla’s batteries.

Mr. Musk’s endorsement has given many nationalist and right-wing heads of state more international cachet, which they have eagerly promoted as a validation of their policies and popularity. Last month, as India began holding an election, Mr. Modi prepared to host Mr. Musk in New Delhi, calling the billionaire’s visit a testament to his leadership.

“People are coming, and they are trusting me,” the Indian prime minister said in a televised interview before Mr. Musk postponed his trip.

Mr. Musk, Tesla, SpaceX and X did not respond to requests for comment.

No other American megabillionaire businessperson has so publicly fostered ideological relationships with world leaders to advance personal politics and businesses. Bill Gates, Microsoft’s co-founder turned philanthropist, engaged in political diplomacy largely after stepping back from corporate life. Other chief executives typically stay quiet about meetings with politicians.

Mr. Musk’s politics have long been guided by his businesses, said five former Tesla and SpaceX executives who worked closely with him and were not authorized to speak publicly. In the 2010s, he built an alliance with President Barack Obama as Tesla and SpaceX welcomed federal assistance and contracts. He remains close to some mainstream leaders, notably President Emmanuel Macron of France.

But as populism and nationalism spread, Mr. Musk courted Xi Jinping in China and supported Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel, Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Italy’s Giorgia Meloni. He began criticizing the “woke mind virus” and what he has declared the failings of the left, which he says have led to issues such as illegal immigration and declining birthrates.

“I guess if you consider fighting the woke mind virus, which I consider to be a civilizational threat, to be political, then yes,” Mr. Musk said in a podcast in November when asked if he was becoming more political. “Woke mind virus is communism rebranded.”

A Long Game

In September 2015, Mr. Musk welcomed Mr. Modi to Tesla’s factory in Fremont, Calif. Mr. Modi, a Hindu nationalist politician, had been elected India’s prime minister a year earlier when his Bharatiya Janata Party swept to power, and was visiting the United States to meet business leaders.

Standing under Indian and U.S. flags at the factory, Mr. Musk and Mr. Modi posed for photographs near a gleaming red Model S car. They discussed how “solar panels and battery packs” could power rural regions in India without electrical lines, Mr. Musk said at the time.

“I understood his vision,” Mr. Modi later said.

It was one of the first instances of Mr. Musk’s publicly meeting a nationalist leader. And it was the beginning of a long game between him and Mr. Modi, a relationship that took years to develop — and that started paying off for Mr. Musk after he bought X.

India is a potentially massive market for Tesla, which needs to expand to new regions to grow. But the country has virtually barred electric vehicles built by foreign manufacturers. In recent years, the tariff India imposes on imported electric vehicles has risen as high as 100 percent.

Mr. Musk initially used traditional personal diplomacy, meeting with Mr. Modi and ordering his staff at Tesla to get close to officials. In 2017, Tesla sent a letter to India’s government to kick-start talks on operating in the country. Another overture to Mr. Modi’s government in 2019 was rebuffed, three people with knowledge of the company said.

After Mr. Musk bought Twitter in 2022, he had a new lever. The platform, renamed X, is widely used in India — including by Mr. Modi, who has nearly 98 million followers — and is a major forum of political discussion.

Before Mr. Musk owned the platform, Twitter tangled with Mr. Modi’s government. The company, which complies with requests to block certain content in India, had sued the government and challenged its power to censor online material.

Under Mr. Musk, X blocked posts last year that linked to a BBC documentary examining Mr. Modi’s role in the 2002 Hindu-Muslim riots in Gujarat, where he was the chief minister at the time. Twitter’s lawsuit against the Indian government was dismissed in July.

In a discussion last year with Twitter employees, Mr. Musk intimated that he was personally close with Mr. Modi. He said he could easily call the prime minister to take care of a content issue, two former employees said. It’s unclear if any conversation took place.

Mr. Musk met Mr. Modi in person again last June when the prime minister visited New York. He called himself a “fan of Modi” and said Mr. Modi was “pushing us to make significant investment in India, which is something that we intend to do.”

By then, Tesla employees were again talking with Mr. Modi’s advisers about a reduction in tariffs and investing in India, two people familiar with the conversations said. Rohan Patel, who was Tesla’s vice president of public policy and business development, traveled to India several times, and Piyush Goyal, India’s commerce minister, visited the Fremont factory in November.

In January, Mr. Musk posted on X that India should receive a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, which would boost India’s international standing. “India not having a permanent seat on the Security Council, despite being the most populous country on Earth, is absurd,” he wrote.

The timing suggests that Mr. Modi noticed. Two months later, India announced it was reducing some import duties for electric carmakers that committed at least $500 million to produce vehicles in the country. The policy dropped tariffs to 15 percent of a car’s price from 100 percent, specifically for electric vehicles that retail for more than $35,000.

The description fit Tesla to a T. Its Model 3 cars ship at $38,990. BYD, the fast-growing Chinese electric vehicle maker, is barred from investing in India on national security grounds.

Last month, Tesla scouted potential factory sites in three Indian states, three people familiar with the process said. Mr. Musk had also said he would visit Mr. Modi in New Delhi during the country’s multiweek general election, before delaying the trip, citing obligations with Tesla.

Mr. Musk promised not to stay away for long. “I do very much look forward to visiting later this year,” he wrote on X.

‘True Legend of Freedom’

By 2021, Mr. Musk was employing a similar courtship to bring his Starlink satellite internet service to Brazil, which was then led by Mr. Bolsonaro, the right-wing populist president elected three years earlier. At the time, Starlink was in its infancy, with fewer than 150,000 users across 25 countries.

In October 2021, Fábio Faria, Brazil’s communications minister and an organizer of Mr. Bolsonaro’s re-election campaign, sent a letter to Mr. Musk, saying that “Starlink and Brazil can become great partners,” according to correspondence obtained through the country’s open records laws.

Weeks later, Mr. Faria visited Mr. Musk in Texas. After returning to Brazil, Mr. Faria pushed regulators to approve Starlink, at one point urging Brazil’s space agency to stay out of any debate about SpaceX’s satellites over the country, he later testified to Brazil's Congress.

Brazil’s regulators approved Starlink for operation in December 2021, seven months after the service first applied. It was the fastest of five approvals that regulators granted to satellite internet providers.

Mr. Musk later lent a hand to Mr. Bolsonaro, who faced an uphill battle in his 2022 re-election campaign.

On May 20 that year, Mr. Musk made a surprise trip to Brazil for a major announcement alongside the president. Starlink was coming to the country, and it would provide internet connectivity to 19,000 rural schools, as well as environmental monitoring of the Amazon, they said at an event in a resort near São Paulo. Mr. Bolsonaro gave Mr. Musk a medal and called him a “true legend of freedom” for his bid that year to buy Twitter.

There was just one catch: The plan to connect schools never materialized, said Carlos Baigorri, Brazil’s chief telecommunications regulator, who helped approve Starlink’s entry into the country. “I don’t really think that it even existed,” he said of the plan.

Brazilian officials said they had no record of Starlink’s connecting Brazilian schools for free or conducting environmental monitoring.

Mr. Musk and Mr. Bolsonaro benefited anyway. Mr. Musk had entrenched SpaceX in a critical market , where Starlink now has 150,000 active accounts, according to Brazil’s telecommunications regulator. Mr. Bolsonaro’s campaign got to promote the president’s business acumen and cast him as a defender of the Amazon before an election.

Mr. Musk’s favor did not prevent Mr. Bolsonaro from losing the presidency to Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s leftist former president, in October 2022. But within weeks, Mr. Musk, who had just completed his deal for Twitter, tried helping Mr. Bolsonaro again.

Mr. Bolsonaro’s supporters had started pushing accusations on Twitter that Brazilian judges had tilted the election by ordering social networks to remove right-wing posts and accounts. As they camped outside military bases demanding the election be overturned , Mr. Musk fed their suspicions by suggesting that Twitter’s former bosses had contributed to Mr. Bolsonaro’s defeat.

“It’s possible that Twitter personnel gave preference to left wing candidates,” he posted in December 2022, without citing any evidence. He later wrote that the company “may have people on the Brazil team that are strongly politically biased.”

Mr. Musk got involved in deciding which posts about Brazil’s election results should stay up or be taken down, two former Twitter employees said. Even after Mr. Musk was briefed about the risk of violence in Brazil that winter, he ordered employees to stop enforcing Twitter’s election rules in the country, including a policy forbidding users to spread misleading claims about election results, they said. He told them to remove only posts that directly incited violence or were subject to a court order.

In January 2023, thousands of Mr. Bolsonaro’s supporters stormed Brazil’s Congress, Supreme Court and presidential offices, under the false belief that the election had been stolen.

Mr. Musk has since used X to attack one of Mr. Bolsonaro’s main political opponents, Alexandre de Moraes , a Brazilian Supreme Court justice who has overseen investigations into the former president and his supporters. X has blocked more than 100 accounts on orders from Justice Moraes, who has said many of them threatened Brazil’s democracy.

“This judge has brazenly and repeatedly betrayed the constitution and people of Brazil,” Mr. Musk posted on X in April. “He should resign or be impeached.”

At a rally called by Mr. Bolsonaro in Rio de Janeiro last month, his supporters held signs thanking Mr. Musk.

When Mr. Bolsonaro addressed the crowd, he hailed the billionaire as “the man who really preserves true freedom for us all.”

A Meeting of the Minds

In 2022, one of Tesla’s lithium suppliers announced a $1.1 billion investment to expand in Argentina. Since then, Mr. Musk has taken a keen interest in Argentine politics — and particularly Mr. Milei — leading to one of the most pronounced bromances among Mr. Musk’s political relationships.

Mr. Milei “would be quite a change,” Mr. Musk wrote on X in September in response to a post from the former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who had called the then-candidate “Argentina’s next president.”

Mr. Milei, a libertarian economist and TV pundit, campaigned on getting the government out of the economy and tying Argentina more closely to the United States. Like Mr. Musk, he frequently insults critics, has an intense social media habit and is deeply worried about the threat from “woke” culture.

Days before Mr. Milei’s inauguration in December, they spoke directly for the first time, and Mr. Musk asked about Argentina’s lithium. In the months since, Mr. Milei has been pushing legislation that would make extracting Argentina’s lithium far more attractive to foreign investors.

His sweeping bill, which would grant him broad emergency powers over Argentina’s economy and energy for the next year, includes a major benefit for Tesla: significant incentives for foreign investors in large projects, particularly in mining.

Such companies would receive substantial tax cuts, customs exemptions and foreign-exchange benefits, as well as tax and regulatory certainty for the next 30 years. Tesla’s lithium supplier is likely to qualify. If so, Mr. Milei’s plan would give Tesla unusual stability and predictability in its access to lithium in Argentina until at least 2054.

The proposal passed Argentina’s lower chamber of Congress on April 30.

Mr. Musk has already seen other dividends from Mr. Milei. In one of his first acts as president, Mr. Milei passed an executive order with 366 provisions. When summarizing the highlights of the order in a televised address, Mr. Milei mentioned just one corporate brand by name: Starlink.

SpaceX had pushed for Starlink’s approval in Argentina since 2022, but faced a bureaucratic jam. Mr. Milei quickly cut regulations on satellite internet, and Starlink began operating in the country in March.

Mr. Milei, in turn, has benefited: Mr. Musk has become his most influential online promoter. In January, Mr. Musk shared videos of Mr. Milei’s speech at the World Economic Forum, in which the leader claimed communism and social justice were the main threats to the West.

The posts set off a frenzy of praise for the Argentine across right-wing corners of the internet, including from Donald J. Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, who met with Mr. Milei in February at the Conservative Political Action Conference outside Washington. Mr. Milei hugged Mr. Trump and told him he was rooting for him.

Last month, Mr. Milei traveled to Austin, Texas, to visit Mr. Musk at Tesla’s factory there. The two men agreed to “open markets and defend the ideas of freedom,” according to a statement from Mr. Milei’s office. The statement did not mention lithium.

Later, Gerardo Werthein, Argentina’s ambassador to the United States, told the Argentine newspaper La Nación that the pair had indeed discussed Argentina’s mineral reserves.

Mr. Musk “had a very good view of everything we have,” Mr. Werthein said, “especially lithium.”

On Monday, Mr. Musk and Mr. Milei met again, this time at a conference in Los Angeles. Mr. Milei called the entrepreneur “my friend” in a speech in which he praised Mr. Musk’s effort to reach Mars . A few hours later, Mr. Musk posted a photo of the two men with their thumbs up.

“I recommend investing in Argentina,” he wrote .

Reporting was contributed by Jason Horowitz from Rome, Kate Conger from San Francisco, Sameer Yasir from New Delhi, Paulo Motoryn from Brasília, Lucía Cholakian Herrera from Buenos Aires and Ishaan Jhaveri from New York.

Ryan Mac covers corporate accountability across the global technology industry. More about Ryan Mac

Jack Nicas is the Brazil bureau chief for The Times, based in Rio de Janeiro, where he leads coverage of much of South America. More about Jack Nicas

Alex Travelli is a correspondent for The Times based in New Delhi, covering business and economic matters in India and the rest of South Asia. He previously worked as an editor and correspondent for The Economist. More about Alex Travelli

The World of Elon Musk

The billionaire’s portfolio includes the world’s most valuable automaker, an innovative rocket company and plenty of drama..

Wooing World Leaders: Elon Musk has fostered relationships with a constellation of right-wing heads of state — including Argentina’s Javier Milei and India’s Narendra Modi — to push his own politics and expand his business empire .

Tesla: Musk has gutted the part of the carmaking company responsible for building charging stations for electric vehicles , sowing uncertainty about the future of the largest and most reliable U.S. charging network.

X: An Australian court extended an injunction ordering the social media platform to remove videos depicting the recent stabbing of a bishop , setting the country’s judicial system up for a clash with Musk.

A $47 Billion Pay Deal: Despite   facing criticism that Tesla is overly beholden to Musk , its board of directors said that the company would essentially give him everything he wanted, including the biggest pay package in corporate history.

Business With China : Tesla and China built a symbiotic relationship that made Musk ultrarich. Now, his reliance on the country may give Beijing leverage .  

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