Prime Minister Narendra Modi has landed in Italy to attend the 50th G7 Summit from June 13 to 15. This marks his first international trip after securing his third consecutive term as Prime Minister, following the BJP-led NDA’s victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Modi is in Italy at the invitation of his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni. He will participate in the G7 outreach session held in Apulia, specifically at the resort town of Fasano. This session will focus heavily on global issues, including the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and between Israel and Hamas.
On Friday, PM Modi will be involved in a session titled ‘Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa-Mediterranean,’ hosted by Italian PM Meloni, and joined by Pope Francis. This session aims to foster discussions on vital global issues, especially those affecting the Global South.
Modi will also engage in bilateral talks with several world leaders. Key meetings include discussions with:
- US President Joe Biden
- UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak
- French President Emmanuel Macron
- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz There is no scheduled bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, though casual interactions are possible. Speculation surrounds a potential meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, but no confirmation has been made.
Modi aims to leverage the G7 Summit to build on the outcomes of the G20 Summit, which was held under India’s presidency, and to address issues pertinent to the Global South. He expressed enthusiasm about his visit, recalling his positive experience at the G20 Summit in Italy in 2021. Modi emphasized the importance of strengthening the strategic partnership between India and Italy, particularly in the Indo-Pacific and Mediterranean regions.
While Modi will not attend the Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland from June 15 to 16, India will still be represented at the event at an appropriate level, according to Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra. The representative for India has yet to be decided.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in the G7 Summit underscores India’s commitment to addressing global challenges through dialogue and cooperation with other world leaders. His agenda includes significant bilateral talks and a focus on creating synergies between the G20 and G7 discussions to benefit the Global South.
