On June 13, Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for Italy to participate in the 50th G7 summit. The prestigious event, taking place from June 13 to 15, 2024, is hosted in the opulent resort town of Borgo Egnazia in Italy’s Apulia region. The summit will gather global leaders from the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, France, and the European Union, with PM Modi representing India.
The G7 Summit, chaired by Italy this year, has outlined several critical objectives. Among the top priorities are addressing the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, particularly its impact on the global agenda, and strengthening relationships with developing countries and emerging economies, with a focus on Africa and the Indo-Pacific region. Additionally, the summit will tackle issues of migration, food security, energy linkages, climate change, and advancements in artificial intelligence.
Prominent leaders attending the summit include Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, US President Joe Biden, and French President Emmanuel Macron. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also expected to join the discussions, particularly focusing on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The G7 has increasingly extended invitations to foreign dignitaries to participate in longer sessions, aiming to represent a broader range of global voices beyond the affluent Western nations. This year, Italy has invited an unprecedented number of world leaders, including Pope Francis, King Abdullah II of Jordan, and leaders from India, Brazil, Argentina, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Algeria, Tunisia, and Mauritania.
In addition to political leaders, the summit will see the participation of heads from major international organizations such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the African Development Bank, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and the UN secretary-general.
This broad assembly underscores the significance of the G7 summit in addressing global challenges and fostering international cooperation. As the summit progresses, the world will be watching closely to see how these discussions shape global policy and collaboration in the coming year.
