Trinidad & Tobago backs India’s UNSC bid as Modi strengthens bilateral ties

As Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues his historic visit to Trinidad & Tobago, the Caribbean nation has officially extended its unwavering support for India’s bid for permanent membership on an expanded UN Security Council.

Modi, the first Indian prime minister to visit since 1999, was adorned with the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the nation’s highest civilian honour.

He also announced a decision to allow sixth-generation descendants of Indo-Caribbean people to obtain Overseas Citizenship of India—strengthening the cultural and ancestral bonds between the two countries.

During bilateral talks with PM Kamla Persad‑Bissessar, both leaders signed six MoUs spanning infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, sports, digital governance, agriculture, healthcare, and capacity building.

In a joint statement, Trinidad reaffirmed its commitment to support India’s permanent seat in the UNSC for the 2028–29 term, while India pledged backing for Trinidad & Tobago’s bid for a non-permanent UNSC seat in 2027–28 .

Modi underscored the significance of the visit, highlighting the deep-rooted legacy of the Indo-Trinidadian community, which comprises nearly 35–40% of the population, tracing back to indentured migrants from India beginning in 1845.

He described the visit as “a new dawn” in strategic partnership and cooperation.

The visit is part of Modi’s five-nation diplomatic tour, which includes stops in Ghana, Argentina, Brazil, and Namibia.

In Trinidad, Modi addressed Parliament, met with the Indian diaspora, and held high-level meetings to deepen cooperation in trade, energy, digital transformation (including support for Unified Payments Interface), and disaster resilience.