Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Brindisi Airport in Italy’s Apulia region on Thursday to participate in the G7 Summit’s outreach session. This marks his first international visit after securing a third consecutive term in office. The summit, held under Italy’s presidency, will see Modi join global leaders to discuss pressing international issues and hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines.
Modi expressed enthusiasm for the summit, tweeting, “Looking forward to engaging in productive discussions with world leaders. Together, we aim to address global challenges and foster international cooperation for a brighter future.” He also emphasized his anticipation for visiting Italy on his first foreign trip of his new term, underscoring the importance of this European nation in India’s diplomatic strategy, indicating the significance of the European nation in India’s diplomatic agenda. The G7 Summit will include participation from leaders of the world’s major advanced economies—Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the UK, and the US—alongside the European Union. This summit represents Modi’s fifth consecutive participation, underscoring India’s growing role in global discussions.
In a video message from Brindisi Airport, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal detailed the Prime Minister’s agenda. “The Prime Minister of India has arrived at Brindisi Airport in Italy to participate in the G7 Summit. Tomorrow (Friday) will be a busy day for him, with several bilateral meetings scheduled with world leaders. He will also be addressing the outreach session of the G7 Summit,” Jaiswal stated. During his pre-departure briefing, Modi emphasized that India’s focus at the summit will include artificial intelligence, energy, Africa, and the Mediterranean. He also stressed that issues critical to the Global South will be at the forefront of discussions. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will host Modi on Friday, welcoming him in her capacity as the President of the Council of Ministers of Italy. Meloni remarked that southern Italy was chosen as the summit’s venue to send a strong message to the Global South, highlighting the region’s significance in global geopolitics.
On the summit’s sidelines, Modi is scheduled to meet with various leaders, including a bilateral meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. As indicated by US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, there are also expectations of a meeting with US President Joe Biden. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict is expected to dominate the summit’s agenda, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy already in attendance. India’s stance on the conflict remains firm on “dialogue and diplomacy” as the best approach, echoing Modi’s statement from September 2022 that “today’s era is not of war.”
Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra reiterated that India will continue sharing its global perspective with other world leaders during the summit. In addition to its primary members, the G7 Summit has extended invitations to leaders from 11 developing countries across Africa, South America, and the Indo-Pacific region. This inclusive approach underlines the summit’s objective to address broader global challenges collectively. As Modi engages with international counterparts in Italy, this visit marks a significant step in India’s ongoing efforts to play a pivotal role on the global stage, addressing key issues and fostering international cooperation.