PM Narendra Modi Receives Brazil’s Highest Civilian Award

PM Narendra Modi: In a moment of pride that echoed across continents, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was honoured on Tuesday with Brazil’s highest civilian award, the Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross, by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The ceremony, held in the heart of Brazil’s capital, marks a significant milestone in the ever-deepening bond between the two major global democracies.

The prestigious accolade was conferred in recognition of Modi’s steadfast efforts to elevate India-Brazil relations, both bilaterally and on multilateral platforms. From global climate action to digital transformation and counter-terrorism, the Indian Prime Minister has played a pivotal role in shaping a cooperative future for the two nations.

“Being honoured with Brazil’s highest national award by the President today is a moment of immense pride and emotion—not only for me but for 140 crore Indians,” PM Modi remarked during a joint press conference following their high-level talks.

In a heartfelt post on the social media platform X, PM Narendra Modi wrote:

“I’m honoured to have been conferred ‘The Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross.’ Gratitude to President Lula, the Government and the people of Brazil. This illustrates the strong affection the people of Brazil have for the people of India. May our friendship scale even newer heights of success in the times to come.”

This is the 26th international honour received by PM Modi since he assumed office in 2014, reinforcing his growing global stature as a statesman and reformer.

PM Narendra Modi: A Strategic Roadmap for the Next Decade

The conferral of the Narendra Modi Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross coincided with a landmark development in bilateral relations. Modi and Lula unveiled a decade-long strategic roadmap anchored in five transformative pillars:

• Defence and Security

• Food and Nutritional Security

• Energy Transition and Climate Change

• Digital Transformation and Emerging Technologies

• Industrial Partnerships in Strategic Sectors

The two leaders agreed to nearly double bilateral trade to $20 billion over the next five years, reflecting a mutual commitment to economic growth and resilience.

Strengthening Legal and Security Ties

Beyond economics, the two nations have set the stage for deeper legal and defence cooperation. Four key agreements are being fast-tracked, including:

• Mutual Legal Assistance in Civil Matters

• MoUs on Defence Industry Cooperation

• Sports Collaboration

• Archival Cooperation

Crucially, agreements were signed on combating terrorism and transnational organised crime, and sharing classified information for enhanced security collaboration. A new cybersecurity dialogue will foster real-time exchange of national insights and threats, ensuring stronger digital infrastructure and resilience on both sides.

PM Modi extended his appreciation to Brazil for its strong condemnation of the recent Pahalgam terror attack and called for united global action against terrorism. The joint statement issued reiterated their stand against UN-designated terrorist organisations such as Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad and emphasized the need to disrupt terror financing networks at global forums like the UN and FATF.

PM Narendra Modi: Cooperation in Agriculture and Food Security

Recognising their roles as leading food producers, India and Brazil committed to an open, fair agricultural trading system. They agreed on the critical role of public stockholding for food security, ensuring the protection of farmer livelihoods and strengthening of global food supply chains.

“Our nations stand together for sustainable and resilient agrifood systems,” the joint statement read, highlighting their shared priorities in ensuring food sovereignty.

Looking Ahead: Friendship Forged in Mutual Respect

Calling President Lula the “architect” of the India-Brazil Strategic Partnership, PM Modi acknowledged that the honour he received was not just personal, but a tribute to the shared aspirations of both countries.

“This award is an inspiration for 1.4 billion Indians to continue fostering global friendships rooted in trust and cooperation,” he said.

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