PM Modi Arrives in Netherlands for Semiconductor Defence and Trade Talks With Dutch PM Rob Jetten as Second Leg of Six-Nation Europe Tour Begins
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday evening, 16 May 2026, for a two-day official visit that marks the second leg of his ambitious six-nation tour spanning the UAE, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy. It is Modi’s second visit to the country after his 2017 trip, and comes at a time when the India-Netherlands relationship is gaining strategic depth across semiconductors, defence manufacturing, clean energy, water management and agricultural technology.
Modi was received at The Hague by senior Dutch officials and members of the Indian diaspora, who turned out in large numbers waving tricolour flags and chanting slogans. In a brief address to the crowd at the airport, the Prime Minister said, “The Netherlands has always been a natural partner for India. Today, as the world faces turbulence, our partnership matters more than ever — for technology, for trade, and for trust.” He later posted on social media platform X, calling the visit “an opportunity to take India-Netherlands ties to unprecedented heights.”
India-Netherlands Bilateral Agenda: Semiconductors at the Centre
The centrepiece of the visit is expected to be a breakthrough agreement on semiconductor cooperation. The Netherlands is home to ASML, the world’s only manufacturer of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines — the most critical piece of equipment in advanced chip manufacturing. India has been actively courting ASML and the Dutch government to establish a semiconductor fabrication ecosystem in India, as part of the $10 billion India Semiconductor Mission launched in 2021.
Sources in the Prime Minister’s Office said that discussions would focus on ASML’s potential role in India’s proposed semiconductor fabs in Gujarat and Karnataka, technology transfer frameworks, and training programmes for Indian engineers. While ASML is unlikely to export its most advanced EUV systems due to US-led export controls, the company’s older deep ultraviolet (DUV) machines — which can produce chips at 28-nanometre and above nodes — are seen as a realistic starting point for India’s chip ambitions.
The semiconductor angle gains additional significance against the backdrop of global chip supply chain restructuring. With the US, EU, Japan and South Korea all investing heavily in domestic chip production to reduce dependence on Taiwan, India’s pitch as an alternative manufacturing hub has gained traction. PM Modi’s six-nation tour was designed precisely to accelerate these technology partnerships at a time when geopolitical alignments are shifting rapidly.
Meeting With Dutch PM Rob Jetten and King Willem-Alexander
On Saturday, Modi is scheduled to hold comprehensive bilateral talks with Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten at the Catshuis, the official residence of the Dutch PM. Jetten, who took office in December 2025 as the leader of a coalition government, has been vocal about strengthening European ties with India as a counterbalance to growing Chinese economic influence in the region.
The agenda for the Jetten-Modi summit includes trade and investment facilitation, with a focus on reducing barriers for Indian IT companies operating in Europe and Dutch firms investing in Indian infrastructure. The Netherlands is already India’s third-largest source of foreign direct investment, with cumulative FDI inflows exceeding $45 billion since 2000. Dutch companies like Philips, Unilever, Shell and ING have substantial operations in India, while Indian IT giants Infosys, TCS and Wipro employ thousands of workers in the Netherlands.
Modi will also have an audience with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima at the Noordeinde Palace. The royal meeting is expected to focus on water management and climate resilience — areas where the Netherlands has world-leading expertise. Given India’s ongoing challenges with monsoon flooding, drought and groundwater depletion, Dutch water engineering technology is seen as particularly relevant.
Defence and Clean Energy Cooperation
Defence cooperation is another key pillar of the visit. India and the Netherlands signed a defence framework agreement in 2023, and discussions are expected to advance proposals for joint naval exercises in the Indo-Pacific, intelligence sharing on maritime security, and Dutch investment in India’s defence manufacturing corridor. The Netherlands, despite its relatively small military, is a significant contributor to NATO and has capabilities in naval systems, cybersecurity and satellite surveillance that align with India’s modernisation priorities.
Clean energy cooperation will also feature prominently. The Netherlands aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and has extensive expertise in offshore wind energy, green hydrogen production and sustainable agriculture. India, which has set its own 2070 net-zero target, is keen to collaborate on green hydrogen technology — an area where the current energy crisis driven by the Iran war has underscored the urgency of reducing fossil fuel dependence.
Indian Diaspora Engagement and Business Roundtable
The Prime Minister’s itinerary includes a community event with the Indian diaspora in The Hague, where an estimated 250,000 people of Indian origin reside in the Netherlands. The Indian community — comprising IT professionals, academics, healthcare workers and entrepreneurs — has been a significant bridge between the two countries. Modi is expected to announce new initiatives to support Indian students in the Netherlands, streamline visa processes for business travellers, and expand the Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card’s utility for the diaspora.
A business roundtable with top Dutch and Indian CEOs is also planned, focusing on investment opportunities in India’s $1.4 trillion infrastructure modernisation programme. Dutch firms are particularly interested in India’s smart city projects, port modernisation and cold chain logistics — sectors where Dutch expertise is globally recognised.
Broader Context: Modi’s Europe Push Amid West Asia Turmoil
The Netherlands visit is part of a broader strategic push by Modi to deepen India’s European partnerships at a time when the global order is in flux. The ongoing Iran-US conflict, the divisions exposed at the recent BRICS foreign ministers’ meeting in New Delhi, and the Trump administration’s transactional approach to allies have created both risks and opportunities for Indian diplomacy.
By visiting four European nations in quick succession — Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy — Modi is signalling that India views Europe as a critical technology and investment partner, not merely a market for exports. The semiconductor discussions with the Netherlands, in particular, could have transformative implications for India’s industrial base if they lead to concrete manufacturing commitments.
After completing his Netherlands programme on Saturday evening, Modi will travel to Stockholm for the Sweden leg of his tour, where discussions on 5G technology, green steel and Arctic cooperation are on the agenda. The Prime Minister’s office has described the six-nation tour as “the most ambitious European engagement by an Indian PM in over a decade,” reflecting the government’s determination to strengthen India’s global partnerships even as domestic challenges from the energy crisis continue to mount.
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- PM Modi Arrives in Netherlands for Semiconductor Defence and Trade Talks With Dutch PM Rob Jetten as Second Leg of Six-Nation Europe Tour Begins - May 16, 2026
