Prime Minister Narendra Modi touched down in Italy late Thursday night, local time, to participate in the landmark 50th G7 Summit. This marks Modi's inaugural international visit following his recent re-election as India's Prime Minister, celebrating a third consecutive term after the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA's triumph in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Invited by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Modi joins the G7 outreach session in Italy's picturesque Apulia region. The summit, set in the luxurious resort town of Fasano from June 13 to 15, will focus heavily on discussions surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Alongside India, the outreach session welcomes leaders from Algeria, Argentina, Brazil, Egypt, Kenya, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Tunisia, and Turkey.
Friday promises a bustling schedule for Modi, who will take part in a critical summit session titled ?Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa-Mediterranean,? hosted by Meloni and featuring an appearance by Pope Francis. Modi expressed his eagerness to utilize the G7 Summit to align outcomes from the G20 Summit, held under India's presidency, with vital discussions pertinent to the Global South.
Modi is also set to engage in bilateral talks on a spectrum of issues with various world leaders, including Prime Minister Meloni. Expected interactions include meetings 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 a bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is not on the agenda, informal greetings are anticipated. Speculations are rife about a potential interaction with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, though no official confirmation has been made.
In his departure statement on Thursday evening, Modi shared his enthusiasm for the summit: ?I look forward to meeting fellow world leaders and discussing a wide range of issues aimed at making our planet better and improving the lives of people.? He added, ?I am glad my first foreign visit in my third term as PM is 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 the Mediterranean regions.?
However, Modi will not be attending the Ukraine Peace Summit in Burgenstock, Switzerland, scheduled for June 15-16. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra confirmed that India would be represented at an "appropriate level," with the specifics of the delegation still being determined.
