Indian PM Narendra Modi reached Italy late on Thursday night (local time) to be part of the 50th G7 Summit. The three-day summit is being held from June 13 to 15. This marks Modi’s first international visit since assuming office for the third consecutive term following the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA’s victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Modi is taking part in the G7 outreach session in Italy’s Apulia region at the invitation of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The summit, held at the resort of Fasano, is taking place int he midst of the Russia-Ukraine war and Israel-Hamas conflict. Leaders from Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Tunisia, and Turkey have also been invited to the outreach session.
On Friday, Modi will have a busy schedule in Italy during the G7 outreach session. He will participate in a summit session titled ‘Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa-Mediterranean,’ hosted by Prime Minister Meloni. Pope Francis will also join this session.
Modi said he aims to use the G7 Summit to create synergy with the outcomes of the G20 Summit held under India’s Presidency and discuss issues crucial for the Global South. He will hold bilateral talks with various world leaders, including Meloni, and is expected to meet with US President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. While there might be an exchange of courtesies with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, no bilateral meeting is planned. There is also speculation about a possible interaction with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, though this has not been confirmed.
Modi will address the outreach session of the G7 Summit, stating in a departure message on Thursday evening, “I look forward to meeting fellow world leaders and discussing a wide range of issues aimed at making our planet better and improving lives of people.” He added that he was “glad” his first foreign visit in his third term as PM was to Italy for the Summit.
“I warmly recall my visit to Italy for the G20 Summit in 2021. Prime Minister Meloni’s two visits to India last year were instrumental in infusing momentum and depth in our bilateral agenda. We remain committed to consolidating the India-Italy strategic partnership, and bolstering cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and Mediterranean regions,” he added.
However, Modi will not participate in the Ukraine Peace Summit, which will be hosted by Switzerland in Burgenstock from June 15 to 16. According to Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, India will be represented “at an appropriate level,” though New Delhi has not yet decided who will attend.
