India, Nordic Nations Call for End to Iran, Ukraine Wars, Seek Rules-Based Global Order

India and the five Nordic nations, on Tuesday (May 19, 2026) called for an end to the global conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, seeking to strengthen a rules-based global order, while underscoring their trade and investment ties.

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi set the tone for the India-Nordic Summit hosted in Oslo, when he said the two sides would continue to work towards reforming multilateral institutions.

“In this era of global tensions and conflict, India and the Nordic countries will continue to work together to strengthen a rules-based global order,” Modi said at a joint press conference after the meeting.

“Whether it is Ukraine or West Asia, we will continue to support the earliest resolution of conflicts and efforts towards peace,” he said.

“We agree that reform of multilateral institutions is both necessary and urgent. We have a clear and united stand on terrorism – no compromise, no double standards,” he added.

Modi said India and Nordic countries were natural partners due to their shared commitment to democracy, multilateralism, and the rule of law.

He noted that investment from Nordic countries was a key part of their partnership and it funds India’s rapid growth.

“Our shared commitment to democracy, rule of law, and multilateralism makes us natural partners. Our shared priorities in technology and sustainability create abundant opportunities for collaboration,” Modi said.

“In light of this, we established this format eight years ago to accelerate and strengthen our relations with the Nordic nations. In the past few years, we have made special progress in our relations,” he added.

In 10 years, “our bilateral trade has increased almost four times. In the last decade, investment from Nordic countries into India has increased by almost 200%.”

The rapidly growing trade and investment have played a very positive role in the economies of the Nordic countries and created thousands of new jobs, he added.

Earlier in the day, the India-Nordic Summit in Oslo discussed sustainability, innovation, clean energy, emerging technologies, and strengthening cooperation for a peaceful and prosperous future.

“India and the Nordic countries are united by shared democratic values, trust, and a common commitment towards human-centric development,” Modi posted on X.

The two sides underscored the importance of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in the multilateral trading system and global trade governance and acknowledged the growing economic exchanges between India and Nordic nations.

“They underscored the importance of a fair, open, transparent, equitable, non-discriminatory, inclusive, and rules-based multilateral trade system, with WTO as its core,” a joint statement after the meeting said.

The meeting highlighted the role in promoting sustainable economic growth, prosperity, circular economy, bioeconomy, development, and resilient supply chains.