Modi in Norway LIVE: PM Modi to meet leaders at the Nordic-India Summit

The Ministry of External Affairs defended India’s record on democracy on Monday (May 18 2026), for the second time during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s European tour, over the PM’s decision not to take questions from the press.

During the joint press appearance with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Mr. Modi was confronted by a Norwegian journalist who stood up and asked him to respond to media questions, as was the norm in the European country. Later in the day, after the same journalist accosted the Ministry of External Affairs on the issue as well as human rights during a briefing, a senior MEA official said that India is a “civilizational country”.

After Netherlands, MEA faces questions over PM’s decision not to hold press conference in Norway

MEA defends India's democracy amid PM Modi's European tour, facing press criticism for not holding conferences in Norway.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen once again called for an investment agreement between India and the European Union (EU), terming it a “missing piece of the puzzle” in the cooperation plans of the two economies.

Ms. von der Leyen was speaking at the European Business Round Table for Industry in Gothenburg, Sweden, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi also delivered his address.

On Tuesday (May 19), Mr. Modi will meet Nordic leaders from Denmark, Sweden, and Finland at the Nordic India Summit where the India-EU free trade agreement will be discussed again.

EU’s Ursula von der Leyen wants to seal investment agreement with India, calls it ‘missing puzzle’

Ursula von der Leyen emphasizes the need for a missing investment agreement with India to enhance EU-India economic cooperation.