Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend the Group of Seven (G7) summit in Italy, where discussions are expected to focus on the Ukraine conflict and Gaza ceasefire talks. The summit will take place from June 13-15 at the luxurious Borgo Egnazia resort in the Apulia region. Leaders from the seven member countries— the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and France—along with representatives from the European Union, will converge for the high-level meeting.
India, invited as an outreach country, aims to highlight defense and maritime cooperation. Ambassador Vani Rao emphasized the importance of these sectors, stating, “Defense and security will be an important pillar that we want to build here. We are looking at cooperation in critical technologies, linking the defense industries of the two countries, and also maritime cooperation.”
This visit marks PM Modi’s first overseas tour since his re-election as Prime Minister for the third term. He will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, as confirmed by Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra. The visit will also serve to follow up on key issues discussed during India’s G20 presidency, noted Ambassador Rao.
With the Ukraine crisis anticipated to be a major topic at the summit, India continues to advocate for dialogue and diplomacy as the optimal solutions. “We have always been at the forefront to talk about not just the conflict, the need for dialogue and diplomacy but also the way the conflict is impacting the priorities and interests of the developing countries,” Mr. Kwatra stated.
During the summit, PM Modi is expected to meet with several key leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden. “Biden expects to see PM Modi in Italy and the two leaders will have the opportunity to encounter each other,” said U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan.
Additionally, PM Modi will hold talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and other leaders to review bilateral ties.
Comments