Prime Minister Narendra Modi was conferred with the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on 4 July, becoming the first foreign leader to receive the Caribbean nation’s highest civilian award. President Christine Carla Kangaloo presented the decoration at a ceremony in Port of Spain during Modi’s two-day official visit, the first by an Indian prime minister since 1999. Trinidad and Tobago’s government said the unprecedented honour recognises Modi’s global leadership, engagement with the Indian diaspora and humanitarian initiatives during the Covid-19 pandemic. The award is the 25th international honour bestowed on him by a foreign country. Accepting the medal, Modi dedicated it to India’s 1.4 billion citizens, calling it a symbol of the “eternal and deep friendship” between the two nations. He praised the Indian-origin community—about 45 per cent of Trinidad and Tobago’s population—for preserving shared traditions and announced that Overseas Citizen of India cards will be extended to sixth-generation descendants.