PM Modi receives Trinidad's highest honor, first foreign leader awarded

In a historic moment for Indian diplomacy and global recognition, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been conferred with the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean nation’s highest civilian honor. With this, PM Modi becomes the first foreign head of government to receive the prestigious award, marking a significant milestone in the diplomatic ties between India and Trinidad and Tobago.

The award was presented in a special ceremony held in Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad and Tobago, during PM Modi’s brief visit as part of a multi-nation diplomatic tour aimed at strengthening India’s ties with Caribbean and Latin American countries. The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is traditionally reserved for citizens of extraordinary merit, but this special conferment recognizes Prime Minister Modi’s global leadership, commitment to democracy, and his efforts in elevating India’s position on the world stage.

The President of Trinidad and Tobago, Christine Kangaloo, along with Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, praised Modi’s leadership and his contribution to global diplomacy, economic reform, and climate action. The award citation hailed PM Modi for being “a transformational leader who has reshaped India’s global identity, strengthened South-South cooperation, and fostered deep cultural and economic ties with the Caribbean.”

India and Trinidad and Tobago share a long-standing relationship rooted in historical, cultural, and people-to-people ties, with a large Indian diaspora forming a vital part of Trinidad’s population. Over 40% of Trinidad and Tobago’s population traces its roots back to India, owing to the arrival of Indian indentured laborers in the 19th century. This award is also seen as a symbolic gesture of honoring that shared legacy and the deepening of bilateral cooperation in recent years.