Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Netherlands witnessed a diplomatic exchange after reported remarks by Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten on press freedom and minority rights in India drew a sharp response from New Delhi.

India rejected the comments, with Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (West) Sibi George saying the concerns reflected a “lack of understanding” about India’s democratic system and social structure.

Addressing the issue during a media briefing in the Netherlands, the Indian diplomat described India as a “vibrant democracy” and pointed to the country’s electoral participation and diversity as evidence of democratic strength. He noted that recent elections in India saw voter participation crossing 90 per cent in some regions.

According to reports, the Dutch Prime Minister had raised concerns linked to press freedom and the condition of minority rights in India before his meeting with PM Modi in The Hague. However, sources indicated that the matter was not formally discussed during the bilateral talks between the two leaders.

India also underlined that people from different faiths coexist peacefully in the country and highlighted the nation’s democratic institutions and constitutional protections.

The exchange came during PM Modi’s visit aimed at strengthening ties between India and the Netherlands across sectors including trade, technology, energy and strategic cooperation. The two countries also discussed expanding bilateral partnerships during high-level meetings in The Hague.

US President Donald Trump on Friday announced that American and Nigerian forces had killed Abu Bilal al-Minuki, whom he described as the global second-in-command of the Islamic State group (ISIS), during a joint military operation in Africa.

According to Trump, the operation was conducted under his direction and involved US forces working alongside the Armed Forces of Nigeria in what he called a “meticulously planned” and “very complex” mission.

In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump said Abu Bilal al-Minuki believed he could remain hidden in Africa, but intelligence sources had tracked his movements. He also claimed the ISIS leader had been among the “most active terrorists in the world.”

Trump thanked the Nigerian government for cooperating in the operation and said the killing would weaken ISIS’s global activities. However, officials did not immediately release details about the exact location or timing of the mission.

There has been no independent confirmation yet from Nigerian authorities regarding the operation or al-Minuki’s role within the terror organisation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday as part of his ongoing five-nation diplomatic visit aimed at strengthening India’s partnerships across Europe and West Asia.

The Prime Minister is expected to hold bilateral discussions with Dutch Leadership in The Hague, with talks likely to focus on trade, investment, technology, defence cooperation and renewable energy.

During the visit, PM Modi will also meet King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands. He is additionally scheduled to interact with members of the Indian community and Dutch business leaders.

The Netherlands visit follows PM Modi’s brief stop in the United Arab Emirates, where discussions were held on energy and strategic cooperation.

According to officials, India and the Netherlands have expanded cooperation in recent years beyond traditional sectors such as agriculture, water management and healthcare. Collaboration has increasingly grown in areas including semiconductors, innovation, maritime security, renewable energy and advanced technologies.

The Netherlands remains one of India’s major trade partners in Europe. Bilateral trade between the two countries was valued at around USD 27.8 billion in 2024-25, while the Netherlands is also among the top foreign investors in India.

PM Modi’s Europe tour also includes visits to Sweden, Norway and Italy as India seeks to strengthen economic and strategic engagement with European nations.