(Image source from: x.com/PMOIndia)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has traveled to Italy to attend the prestigious G7 Summit, where he is engaging in crucial bilateral discussions with global leaders. The event is taking place at the luxurious Borgo Egnazia resort in the Apulia region of Italy. India has been invited to participate in the G7 Summit as an Outreach country, and this marks the Prime Minister's first overseas visit since his re-election for a third consecutive term. During his time in Italy, PM Modi has held productive meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, French President Emmanuel Macron, and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. He has also met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and is scheduled to hold further talks with her and the Pope. Following his discussion with President Zelensky, the Indian Prime Minister expressed that the meeting was constructive and that India is eager to strengthen its bilateral ties with Ukraine. Regarding the ongoing conflict with Russia, PM Modi reiterated India's stance of advocating for a human-centric approach and the importance of dialogue and diplomacy as the path to peace. The Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, has shared details of the Prime Minister's meeting with President Macron, stating that the two leaders are working to take their strategic partnership to new heights.
The G7 leaders in Apulia, Italy, engaged in discussions to further enhance their partnership. This included areas such as defense, nuclear technology, space exploration, education, climate action, digital infrastructure, critical technologies, connectivity, and cultural exchange. They also exchanged views on significant global and regional issues. The first day of the summit was dominated by the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The leaders agreed to support a $50-billion loan to Ukraine, utilizing frozen Russian assets, which was described by US President Joe Biden as a significant outcome and a strong message to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Prime Minister Modi expressed his satisfaction with this being his first foreign visit in his third term as Prime Minister, recalling his previous visit to Italy for the G20 Summit in 2021. He noted that the two visits by Prime Minister Meloni to India last year had contributed to strengthening the India-Italy strategic partnership, with a commitment to further consolidate cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and Mediterranean regions. The choice of Apulia as the summit location conveys a clear message to the countries of the developing world. "It's intentional that we're holding the meeting in this southern Italian region. This decision reflects our desire, as the G7 under Italy's leadership, to enhance our engagement and exchange with nations from the Global South," she explained.
