Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to join US President Joe Biden and his counterparts from Australia and Japan at a summit of the Quad leaders in Sydney on 24 May that is expected to focus on implications of the Ukraine conflict and the overall situation in the Indo-Pacific.
Before travelling to Australia, Modi is likely to visit the Japanese city of Hiroshima to attend the annual summit of the Group of Seven (G7) advanced economies that is scheduled to take place from 19 to 21 May, people familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.During his visit to India last month, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida invited Modi for the G7 summit.
In their summit, the Quad leaders are also expected to bolster overall cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, a region that has been witnessing growing Chinese military assertiveness.
The White House on Wednesday said President Biden will attend the G7 leaders’ summit in Hiroshima as well as the Quad summit in Sydney.
From Japan, Modi may travel to a Pacific island nation from where he will likely go to Australia for the Quad summit, it is learnt.
India is yet to make any official announcement on Modi’s proposed foreign visits next month.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s office on Wednesday formally made an announcement on hosting of the Quad summit.
It said Albanese looks forward to welcoming his Quad counterparts to Australia for the Summit.
“Quad partners are deeply invested in the success of the Indo-Pacific. Leveraging our collective strengths helps Australia advance its interests and more effectively respond to the region’s needs,” Albanese said.
“We are always better off when we act together with our close friends and partners,” he said.
“On May 24, President Biden will attend the third in-person Quad leaders’ summit in Sydney, Australia, with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio of Japan, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, hosted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia,” it said.
Modi is likely to hold a number of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the G7 and the Quad summits.
