As Prime Minister Modi gears up for his third term in office, a whirlwind of significant international trips awaits him, with stops planned in Italy and Switzerland. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy has extended an invitation for Prime Minister Modi to attend the G7 summit in Italy, scheduled from June 13-15. Additionally, he’s been invited to the ‘Summit of Peace in Ukraine’ in Switzerland, set to take place from June 15 to 16. This summit aims to facilitate dialogue and understanding toward achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
The G7 Summit, an annual gathering of leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with the European Union also participating, serves as a platform for discussing economic policies, addressing global challenges, and promoting international cooperation.
What’s on the agenda for the G7 Summit under Italy’s leadership?
Italy’s push to phase out coal-fired power plants by 2025 will be a key topic for discussion at the upcoming G7 Summit. Rome seeks to garner support from other G7 members for a unified timeline to end coal usage.
The Significance of India’s Involvement in the G7
While India is not a G7 member, its repeated invitations as a guest nation underscore its growing influence in global economic and political arenas. India’s participation has become increasingly noteworthy, as evidenced by its invitation to the 2023 G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan. India advocates for climate justice, sustainable development, and the responsibilities of developed nations. It contributes expertise in post-pandemic recovery and global health security, aiming to foster economic cooperation with G7 nations, particularly in technology, infrastructure, and trade. Additionally, India’s perspective on global peace, security, and its role in the Indo-Pacific region are significant topics of discussion. Participation in the G7 enables India to influence global economic and political agendas directly.
India’s active engagement enhances its soft power, portraying it as a responsible and influential global player. Participation in the G7 opens avenues for attracting investment, strengthening trade relations, and accessing advanced technologies and innovations.
In response to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s congratulations on his electoral victory, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed gratitude and emphasized their shared commitment to enhancing the relationship between Italy and India. Despite falling short of a majority, the NDA, led by PM Modi’s BJP, is set to form the government at the center.
The Peace Summit on Ukraine in Switzerland
India has yet to confirm its participation in the peace summit in Ukraine hosted by Switzerland. The decision on whether top leadership figures like PM Modi, External Affairs Minister Dr. Jaishankar, and NSA Ajit Doval will attend remains pending. However, it’s likely they won’t be in attendance. In contrast, U.S. President Joe Biden will not attend, instead sending Vice President Kamala Harris and NSA Jake Sullivan. Notably, Russia has not been invited, and China declined an earlier invitation.
The Peace Summit aims to address and resolve the ongoing conflict resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in a recent interview with Bosnian Serb television network ATV, reiterated Russia’s stance on the Ukraine conflict, emphasizing the defense of Russian-speaking populations in Crimea and the Donbas region. Regarding the Swiss conference, Lavrov stated Russia’s commitment to open negotiations based on reality, refusing to participate in events promoting Ukrainian President Zelensky’s peace formula.