India’s participation at the G7 is seen as a growing synergy!

India (Commonwealth Union)_ Japan hosted the 2023 G-7 summit in Hiroshima, where India was invited as a special guest alongside Australia, Brazil, South Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Comoros, which represented the African Union, and the Cook Islands, which represented the Pacific Islands Forum. Accordingly, the honorable Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s attendance at the G7 Summit held in Japan had particular significance this year due to India’s current presidency of the G20. Prime Minister Modi also attended the third Summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Island Cooperation (FIPIC) in Papua New Guinea before proceeding to Sydney for a bilateral engagement with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

At the special invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Prime Minister Narendra Modi graced the occasion of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima, Japan, from May 20 to 21, 2023. This marked the fifth consecutive invitation for PM Modi to attend the G7 gathering. Previously, he attended the summit in Biarritz, France, in 2019. In 2020, he was invited by then-US President Donald Trump to Camp David, USA. However, the summit was canceled in light of the global Covid-19 pandemic and the US elections. In 2021, PM Modi virtually participated in the G7 discussions convened by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Cornwall, owing to the surge of the Omicron variant in India. In 2022, PM Modi participated in the G7 discussions held in Elmau, Germany, at the invitation of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

India shares a high level of confidence with the G7 countries, as they are all democracies with pluralistic societies, open trading systems, market economies, robust media, and independent judiciaries. Moreover, India also maintains close and strategic ties with all G7 member nations. India’s G20 Presidency also gives it a prominent role and a stronger voice to communicate authoritatively about solving global problems. Under its Presidency, India has also emerged as the Voice of the Global South, as it hosted the inaugural Voice of the Global South Summit in January 2023 to address the concerns and aspirations of the developing world.

During the G7 Meeting in Hiroshima, PM Modi held bilateral discussions with various leaders, including Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, South Korean President Yoon, Brazilian President Lula, and others. These discussions covered a wide range of bilateral cooperation areas, including the priorities of the G20 and G7 presidencies, as well as regional developments and Indo-Pacific cooperation. Further, the bilateral discussions with Japanese PM Kishida centered on education, skill development, tourism, the environment, green hydrogen, high technology, Ukraine, and nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament.

The second issue on which Japan wished to focus was nuclear non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. The decision to hold the summit in Hiroshima was symbolic and well-considered. Hiroshima is not only the city from which Prime Minister Kishida originates, but also the site of the horrific atomic weapon attack on August 6, 1945, during World War II. Further, PM Modi also actively participated in three sessions under the G7 deliberations, and delivered his speech focusing on three major topics such as, ‘Toward a Peaceful,Stable, and Prosperous World’; ‘Common Endeavor for a Sustainable Planet (including Climate, Energy, and Environment)’; and ‘Working Together to Address Multiple Crises (including Food, Health, Development, and Gender)’.

The meeting between PM Modi and Ukrainian President Zelensky garnered significant media attention and commentary. Their exchange held both diplomatic and political significance, with PM Modi emphasizing that the conflict should be viewed through a humanitarian lens rather than solely in terms of politics or economy. He assured President Zelensky of India’s commitment to assisting in ending the conflict and providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Additionally, discussions with the President of South Korea and the Prime Minister of Vietnam covered a wide range of bilateral issues and regional developments.

During the meeting with the President of France, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the India-France Strategic Partnership, particularly as it marked the 25th year of their relationship. PM Modi expressed his anticipation of visiting France for the Bastille Day celebrations on July 14th. During the outreach summit, the G7 and guest countries released a communique known as the Hiroshima Action Statement for Resilient Global Food Security. The statement mainly highlighted India’s global initiatives launched by PM Modi, including the International Year of Millet, India’s G20 Research Initiative on millets and ancient grains, and additional initiatives like LiFE. During his visit, PM Modi also opened the sculpture of Mahatma Gandhi, a gift from the Indian government to the city of Hiroshima.

Overall, PM Modi’s three-day visit to Hiroshima for the G7 and Quad Summits was deemed highly successful, showcasing his close rapport with G7 nations and leaders, including President Biden, PM Kishida, PM Albanese, President Macron, and others. The opportunity was well utilized by PM Modi to brief the attending leaders on the priorities and advancements of the G20 deliberations. In addition to the G7 nations, which are all members of the G20, five other G20 members, including India, were invited as guests, including the PM of Australia and the Presidents of the Republic of Korea, Brazil, and Indonesia. Further, it is clear that India maintains a strong relationship and shares common views with the G7 countries, which is something that continues to grow and expand with the passage of time.