Prime Minister Narendra Modi is heading to Italy to attend a summit of Group of Seven, known as the G7, which is likely to be dominated by Ukraine and Gaza ceasefire talks. India, which has been invited to the G7 summit as an outreach country, has defence and maritime cooperation on its agenda, according to ambassador Vani Rao. The summit will be held between June 13-15 at the luxurious Borgo Egnazia resort in Apulia region, with leaders flying in from the seven member countries, US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and France, as well as the European Union.
PM Modi Heads To Italy For G7 Summit
Why In News
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi is heading to Italy to attend a summit of Group of Seven, known as the G7, which is likely to be dominated by Ukraine and Gaza ceasefire talks. India, which has been invited to the G7 summit as an outreach country, has defence and maritime cooperation on its agenda, according to ambassador Vani Rao.
- The summit will be held between June 13-15 at the luxurious Borgo Egnazia resort in Apulia region, with leaders flying in from the seven member countries, US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and France, as well as the European Union.
Evolution of the G7
- The G7 originated as the G6 in 1975 in response to the first oil crisis, with Canada joining the following year. From 2010 to 2014, Russia’s inclusion briefly expanded the group to the G8. The G7 operates without a formal charter or secretariat, relying on the presidency to set the annual agenda. Collectively, the G7 nations represent nearly 45 percent of global GDP and over 10 percent of the world’s population.
- Originally focused on economic issues, the G7 has evolved into a platform for addressing broader global challenges, including peace and security, counter-terrorism, development, education, health, environment, and climate change.
- Since 2003, the G7 has invited non-member countries, particularly from Asia and Africa, to participate in Outreach Sessions. These sessions foster international cooperation and have expanded to include interactions with non-governmental stakeholders on business, civil society, labor, science, academia, women’s rights, and youth.
Who Is Coming
- G7 comprises the United States, Japan, Canada, Germany, France, Italy and Britain. The European Union participates in all discussions and is represented by the presidents of both the European Council and the European Commission.
- The host country traditionally invites outside guests to join some of the sessions. Italy has thrown open the doors and will this year welcome Pope Francis, the King of Jordan as well as the leaders of Ukraine, India, Brazil, Argentina, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Algeria, Tunisia and Mauritania, which holds the presidency of the African Union.
- secretary-general of the United Nations and heads of the World Bank, the IMF, the African Development Bank and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) will be present.
G7 Summit Agenda
- According to the official G7 Italy website, The summit will address a range of pressing global issues through six key working sessions:
- Africa, climate change and development : Africa is a priority for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the summit host. She aims to position Italy as a key clean-energy link between the EU and Africa, reducing dependency on Russian gas. The Mattei plan, a cornerstone of her foreign policy, involves significant investments in African infrastructure, development, and energy.
- Climate change remains a key issue : especially as none of the G7 members are on track to meet their 2030 emission reduction targets. The G7 aims for a 40-42 per cent emission reduction by 2030, but current policies suggest only a 19-33 per cent reduction is likely. This shortfall highlights the need for stronger leadership from the world’s richest nations, responsible for a significant share of global emissions.
- Middle East : G7 will also focus on the Middle East, particularly the Gaza conflict. US President Joe Biden has proposed a plan for an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, the release of hostages, increased aid for Gaza, and a comprehensive peace deal ensuring the security of both Israel and Gaza residents. The G7 countries, including those in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), have already accepted this resolution.
- Ukraine : The G7 leaders hope to finalise a deal to use profits from the interest on €300 billion of frozen Russian central bank assets to aid Kyiv. The plan involves using these profits as collateral for a loan of up to $50 billion, though technicalities regarding debt issuance and potential unfreezing of assets in a peace scenario remain contentious.
- Migrations : Obviously, migration is a critical agenda item for Meloni’s government, which has implemented strict measures to curb arrivals while expanding legal immigration channels to address labour shortages. Meloni’s strategy includes forging agreements with African nations to prevent migrants from leaving and to accept the return of failed asylum seekers. The summit will discuss these strategies and seek broader cooperation to manage migration effectively. In the backdrop are also the Rwanda Deportation Bill in the UK, and Meloni’s similar agreement with Albania to manage migrants.
- Indo-Pacific and economic security : Indo-Pacific is of strategic significance, particularly for Japan, the only G7 member located in the region. These countries are formulating policies to engage more deeply with this region, recognising its economic potential and the strategic challenge posed by China’s expanding influence.
- Outreach Session with invited nations and international organisations on Africa, the Mediterranean, artificial intelligence, and energy.
India’s significance
- As the world’s fifth-largest economy, India’s GDP surpasses those of three G7 member countries—France, Italy, and Canada.
- Following its successful G20 Presidency, India has emerged as a strong advocate for the Global South.
- At previous G7 Summits, India has consistently highlighted issues pertinent to the Global South.
India’s Contributions at Previous G7 Summits
- At the 2023 G7 Summit in Hiroshima, PM Modi participated in three plenary sessions that addressed multiple crises, climate resilience, and global peace. India’s contributions to global initiatives, such as the Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE), the International Year of Millets, and the Millets and Other Ancient Grains International Research Initiative (MAHARISHI), were recognized in the “Hiroshima Action Plan for Resilient Global Food Security.”
