Mahmoud Abbas on Narendra Modi

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian President, has maintained a notably positive and diplomatic relationship with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, characterized by mutual high-level interactions and recognition. A key instance of this positive engagement was when the President received the Grand Collar of the State of Palestine, which is the highest honor bestowed by Palestine, directly from Modi during the Prime Minister's visit to the Palestinian territories in 2018. This act underscored a significant level of mutual respect and the deepening of ties between the two leaderships, despite any broader geopolitical complexities. The President has also extended formal commendations to the Prime Minister on various occasions, including through letters marking significant national events.

This relationship has been publicly reciprocal, with the Prime Minister also engaging in gestures of recognition toward the Palestinian leadership. Prior to the 2018 visit, the President had already bestowed an Indian state honor upon the Prime Minister. Furthermore, Abbas sent a congratulatory letter to Modi following his re-election in 2019, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to the bilateral relationship and acknowledging Modi's electoral success. These interactions suggest that the relationship at the leadership level focuses on mutual diplomatic courtesy and strengthening ties between Palestine and India.