PM Modi to attend G7 Summit in Italy, his first international trip after assuming office

New Delhi, June 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to make his first international trip since being re-elected for a third consecutive term, traveling to Italy tomorrow to participate in the annual G7 Summit. This year’s summit will take place from June 13 to 15 at the luxury resort of Borgo Egnazia in Italy’s Apulia region, officials said.

This will mark India’s 11th participation in the G7 Summit’s Outreach Session and Prime Minister Modi’s fifth appearance. The G7, which comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the USA, has historically invited non-member countries to engage in discussions on global issues.

Summit Focus: Global Conflicts and Economic Stability

The summit is expected to address pressing global conflicts, notably the ongoing war in Ukraine and the Gaza conflict. Key leaders attending include US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also scheduled to join the discussions to address the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The Prime Minister will be accompanied by a high official delegation and Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Modi is also scheduled to hold several bilateral meetings, including one with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

The G7, initially formed as the G6 in 1975 in response to the first oil crisis, expanded to include Canada the following year. The group, which represented the world’s most advanced economies, briefly became the G8 with Russia’s inclusion from 2010 to 2014. The presidency of the G7 rotates annually among its members, with the hosting country setting the summit’s agenda. This year’s summit in Italy marks the country’s seventh presidency.

India’s consistent invitation to the G7 Outreach sessions underscores its growing global significance. As the world’s fifth-largest economy, India’s economic clout now surpasses three G7 nations: France, Italy, and Canada. Following its recent G20 Presidency, India has emerged as a pivotal voice for the Global South, advocating for issues pertinent to developing nations at global forums.

At the previous G7 Summit held in Hiroshima in 2023, Prime Minister Modi participated in three plenary sessions addressing multiple crises, climate change, and global stability. The summit concluded with the adoption of the ‘Hiroshima Action Plan for Resilient Global Food Security,’ which included several of India’s global initiatives such as Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) and the International Year of Millets.

Focus Areas of the 50th G7 Summit

The upcoming G7 Summit will focus on various critical areas, including:

Indo-Pacific

Africa

Climate Change

Environment

Migration

Artificial Intelligence

Significance of Modi’s Participation

Prime Minister Modi’s participation in the 50th G7 Summit will highlight India’s increasing influence on global economic and geopolitical discussions. His presence will also provide an opportunity for bilateral engagements on the sidelines, further solidifying India’s role in addressing global challenges.

As the G7 leaders gather in Italy, the world will be watching to see how these discussions shape future policies and collaborations in tackling some of the most urgent issues facing the international community today.