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‘My friend…’: How Meloni, Putin, Netanyahu wished PM Modi on 76th birthday

by Editor

3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Sep 17, 2026 08:07 PM IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi turned 76 on Thursday, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Russian President Vladimir Putin among the foreign leaders who sent birthday greetings, highlighting ties between their countries and India.

Modi was born in Gujarat’s Vadnagar on September 17, 1950.

“Happy birthday to my friend @narendramodi, whom I wish health, energy and success. Italy and India continue to strengthen their deep bond of friendship, building together a future of cooperation and prosperity for our nations.”

Meloni hails India-Italy friendship

Extending birthday greetings to Modi, Meloni wished him “health, energy, and success”. In a post on X, she said Italy and India were continuing to strengthen their “deep bond of friendship” and build a future of cooperation and prosperity for the two countries.

Putin praises Modi’s ‘great authority’

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Modi’s “great authority on the global stage”. In a message published on the Kremlin’s website, Putin said Modi was “rightly enjoying a deep respect from his compatriots” and praised his “personal contribution” to strengthening the “special and privileged strategic partnership” between India and Russia.

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Putin, who visited New Delhi last week for the 18th BRICS Summit, also thanked Modi for the welcome extended to him and the Russian delegation. He described their talks as “substantive, frank, and productive” and said their discussions demonstrated Modi’s “political wisdom and foresight”.

Netanyahu calls India a ‘world power’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also greeted Modi on September 17, saying his leadership had “transformed India into a world power”. Netanyahu described India and Israel’s relationship as an “unprecedented partnership” and said their friendship had “never been stronger”.

In a post on X, Netanyahu wrote, “Happy birthday, Narendra! Prime Minister @narendramodi. Your leadership has transformed India into a world power. Together, we have built an unprecedented partnership between our two great democracies. The friendship between Israel and India has never been stronger, and together we will take it to even greater heights.”

Leaders and governments from several other countries, including Sri Lanka, the Maldives and Dominica, also extended birthday greetings to Modi.

The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. … Read More

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