G7 Summit 2024: Prime Minister Modi and President Macron of France explore avenues to enhance collaboration in defense and space sectors | VIEW
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received an invitation from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for a significant international event and arrived in Italy on Friday accompanied by a prominent delegation. This marks PM Modi’s inaugural overseas trip during his current term. He is scheduled to engage in meetings with various global leaders during his participation at the G7 Summit in 2024.
At the summit held in Apulia, Italy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines. Throughout the day, he is set to meet with several other leaders including British PM Rishi Sunak, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Italian PM Giorgia Meloni.
Discussions between Modi and Macron encompassed enhancing collaboration across defense, nuclear energy, space technology, education, climate action, digital infrastructure, critical technologies, connectivity, and culture. Insights were also exchanged on key global and regional issues, as confirmed by the Ministry of External Affairs. Their last encounter occurred in January during President Macron’s visit to India for its 75th Republic Day celebrations.
The G7 Summit commenced with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hosting leaders such as US President Joe Biden, UK PM Rishi Sunak, among others, at a luxurious resort in Borgo Egnazia. PM Modi, who received the invitation from Italian counterpart Meloni, arrived with a distinguished delegation on Friday morning, marking his first foreign trip of the current term.
Additional attendees at the summit included Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, Japanese PM Fumio Kishida, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. PM Modi expressed satisfaction in choosing Italy for his first international visit of the third consecutive term, recalling his participation in the G20 Summit there in 2021. He underscored the pivotal role of Prime Minister Meloni’s visits to India in the past year in advancing bilateral relations, particularly in the Indo-Pacific and Mediterranean regions.
Day two of the G7 Summit focused on issues such as migration, the Indo-Pacific, and economic security, leading up to discussions on Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa, and the Mediterranean during the Outreach session. Prime Minister Modi engaged in bilateral meetings with global leaders and participated in the customary G7 group photograph. The day also featured an address by Pope Francis, marking the first time a Pope addressed the summit, emphasizing the implications and opportunities of Artificial Intelligence and advocating for global peace amid conflicts.
Throughout the summit, leaders addressed pressing global challenges, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with initiatives such as a proposed $50-billion loan to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets gaining consensus. India reiterated its stance emphasizing dialogue and diplomacy as the most effective means to resolve geopolitical conflicts, underscoring Prime Minister Modi’s commitment during his visit to Italy for the G7 Summit.
