South America

Argentina

• Announced its withdrawal from WHO (Following Trump)
• PM Modi Visit - First bilateral visit by an Indian PM; Awarded ‘Key to the City’ in Buenos Aires.
• President Javier Milei was criticized for endorsing cryptocurrency token LIBRA
• India & Argentina signed an MoU on lithium exploration & mining.
• Milei Italian citizenship.

Brazil

• Second country (after India) in BRICS to refuse BRI.
• Officially announced to join OPEC+ as an observer.
• 17th BRICS Summit: Rio de Janeiro (July 6–7, 2025) under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
  • Theme: Strengthening Global South Cooperation for a More Inclusive and Sustainable Governance.
  • Outcomes:
    • Partnership to eliminate socially determined diseases.
    • Tropical Forests Forever Fund to be launched at UNFCCC COP30 in Belem, Brazil.
    • Supported India’s Chairmanship for the 18th BRICS Summit in 2026.
    • Supported India’s bid to host UNFCCC COP33 (2028).
    • MoU on BRICS Carbon Market.
• Hosted 19th G20 Summit (Rio de Janeiro, Nov 2024).
  • Theme: Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet.
  • The Rio Declaration → Global Alliance against Poverty & Hunger (SDG 1 Poverty, SDG 2 Hunger; Silva launched).
  • Energy transition, Climate action, End racial equality (Proposed SDG 18th), Taxing Billionaires or super rich.
• Ban on X: Brazilian Supreme Court suspended X for non-compliance with legal rules.
• Senna Tower - At Balneario Camboriu city; world's tallest residential tower.
• First Overseas Nano Fertiliser Plant (by IFFCO & NANOFERT) to be set up in Brazil.
• India, Brazil & South Africa signed a joint declaration on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) for inclusive digital transformation.
• PM Modi’s 5-Nation Visit (July 2–9, 2025)
  • Countries: Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil, Ghana, Namibia
  • Outcomes:
    • Brazil visit → first Indian PM in 57 years; awarded Grand Collar of the National Order of the Southern Cross.
    • Target: $20 billion trade with Brazil by 2030.

Chile

• President Gabriel Boric Font visited India; India- Chile Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) signed in 2017.
• Chile declared National Yoga Day on November 04.

Colombia

• Joined the New Development Bank (NDB) just before the 17th BRICS Summit (11 Members now).
• Elected as non-permanent member of the UN Security Council (2026–28).
• Signed a Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) cooperation pact with China.
• 17th country to partner with India in the film industry.

Ecuador

• President - Daniel Noboa

Paraguay

• Visit of Paraguay’s President Santiago Palacio to India - Focus on Bi-Oceanic Railway Project of South America.

Peru

• Chancay Mega Port inaugurated by Xi Jinping; Chinese shipping giant Cosco invested.

Suriname

• Jennifer Geerlings-Simons - first woman President.
• WHO certified Suriname as the first country in the Amazon region to be malaria-free.

Trinidad & Tobago

• First Caribbean country and the 8th worldwide to allow Indian travelers to use UPI.
• Kamla Persad-Bissessar -- PM, first women PM (originally from Buxar).
• PM Modi was awarded the Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago (first Indian PM to receive it).

Uruguay

• New President: Yamandú Orsi

Venezuela

• President: Nicolás Maduro re-elected; United Socialist Party of Venezuela; Opposition candidate González.
• Holds the world’s largest oil reserves.