Modi's Argentina Punch: A Five-Front Strike on Lithium, Gas, Tejas, Space, and Terrorism

International News: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Argentina is the first since Indira Gandhi's visit in 1968. India and Argentina are seeking to expand cooperation in critical minerals, energy, defence, and trade. This visit of the prime minister will also strengthen their cooperative stand against terrorism. Modi arrived in Argentina on Saturday for the third leg of the five-nation tour. Also, Argentina has been one of the biggest edible oil suppliers to India. The bilateral commerce between the two nations peaked in 2022 at over $6 billion. The unique aspect is that, even in 2025, trade between the two nations has surpassed $2 billion in the first few months.

Importance of the Visit

India is showing growing interest in Argentina’s rich natural resources—especially lithium, copper, and shale gas. Among these, lithium holds particular importance for India’s clean energy ambitions. As a key component in batteries used for electric vehicles and energy storage systems, lithium is vital to India's plans for a greener future. Argentina, part of the so-called Lithium Triangle along with Bolivia and Chile, holds some of the largest lithium reserves in the world.

Recognizing this opportunity, India has already taken steps to strengthen its presence in the region. Khanij Bidesh India Limited (KABIL), a government-backed mining company, has secured exploration rights for lithium in Argentina’s Catamarca province.

LNG draws New Delhi's attention.

Not just minerals, New Delhi is increasingly interested in Argentina's expanding LNG potential and untapped shale energy resources, which include the world's second-largest natural gas reserves. With traditional Gulf suppliers in trouble, the Modi government is attempting to diversify its energy supplies, and Argentine LNG is part of that strategy. Buenos Aires has expressed interest in increasing LNG exports and courting Indian investment in the upstream sector.

Defence cooperation

The visit is expected to involve more discussions about defence cooperation. Argentina has expressed interest in Indian-made defense weapons, particularly the Tejas light combat aircraft; however, this is still in its early phases. The discussions could cover collaborative training, co-production, and technology transfer. Also, Indian officials have indicated that digital public infrastructure and telemedicine are two areas where collaboration might be strengthened.

Space and Technological Cooperation

Argentina is claimed to be eager to learn from India's experience in implementing large-scale digital governance platforms and cost-effective healthcare delivery models. Space and satellite technology are also under discussion. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and Argentina's CONAE space agency have already collaborated, and both see the visit as an opportunity to formalize future cooperation.