Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Italy for the G7 summit, which is expected to dominate the discussions on ceasefires in Ukraine and Gaza.
The summit will be held in the luxury Puglia resort of Borgo Egnazia from June 13-15. Heads of state and government of the seven member states – the United States, Britain, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and France – as well as the European Union will fly in.
India, which has been invited to the G7 summit as a contact country, will be discussing defence and maritime cooperation, according to Ambassador Vani Rao.
G7 Summit in Italy
Italy is hosting the G7 summit following European elections that saw a surge in the popularity of the far right in G7 member states France and Germany among others.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is also the leader of a far-right party, but she remains loyal to the center, especially in foreign policy, making her a reassuring partner across the Atlantic in the face of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Persistent issues such as climate change and China will also be discussed. The G7 is an informal forum where leaders meet once a year to discuss economic policy and security issues.
The G7 summit, held under the Italian presidency, identified several key priorities for the year.
Broadly speaking, these are:
- first, the Russia-Ukraine and Middle East conflicts that affect the global agenda;
- second, relations with developing and emerging countries, in Africa and the Indo-Pacific region;
- third, migration, with its links to climate, energy and food security;
- and last but not least, artificial intelligence.
Discussion on Abortion rights and other issues in G7 Summit
Abortion rights are one of a number of issues on which leaders are divided, including in the final declaration of the G7 summit. Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani denied reports that Italy had sought to remove any reference to abortion and said the issue was still under discussion.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the host of the summit, whose far-right party has been emboldened by the positive results of the weekend’s European elections, insisted she has no intention of repealing a 1978 law that allows abortion in Italy.
But she has also made it a priority to encourage women to have children to reverse Italy’s demographic crisis.
A French official, speaking on condition of anonymity as is customary for French presidents, said there were differences of opinion with Italian negotiators on some issues.
G7 leaders agree to loan Ukraine $50 billion
The Leaders of G7 have decided to secure by frozen Russian assets, officials said. The world’s seven richest democracies have agreed to loan Ukraine up to $50 billion secured by frozen Russian assets, officials said.
Diplomats reviewed the agreement before the start of a three-day G7 summit that includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States.
US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will also sign a bilateral security agreement during the summit.
European officials have resisted asset seizure, citing concerns about legal and financial stability. But the plan calls for interest earned from the assets to be used to support Ukraine’s war effort.
PM Modi In G7 Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Italy on Thursday to attend the annual G7 summit of developed countries. External Affairs Minister Vinay Kwatra on Wednesday said Modi’s participation in the G7 summit in 2024 will be an opportunity to build on the outcomes of last year’s G20 summit hosted by India.
The prime minister will also hold bilateral talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The two prime ministers last met at the COP28 summit in Abu Dhabi in December 2023.
During a state visit in March 2023, India-Italy relations were upgraded to a strategic partnership focused on defence, the Indo-Pacific, energy and science and technology.
