With the BRICS and G-7 summits set to prominently discuss the Ukraine-Russia war, India is going to pitch for the dialogue as the only way to resolve the existing problems between the two countries. While attending both the summit meetings, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be articulating New Delhi’s balanced and neutral approach saying that it is on the side of the peace that could be achieved through dialogue and diplomacy between Kyiv and Moscow.
PM Modi will be attending the 14th summit of the BRICS—Brazil, Russia, India and China– virtually on 23-24 June. This summit is being hosted by the Chinese President Xi Jinping. The BRICS summit is held under the Chinese presidency.
PM Modi will also be attending the G-7 summit following an invitation by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
He will visit the Alpine castle of Schloss Elmau in southern Germany on 26-27 June to attend the annual summit of G7. PM Modi will travel to UAE on 28 June to pay his condolences on the passing away of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the former president of the Gulf nation. His visit to the UAE is also being viewed as India’s bid to placate the Gulf country in the wake of the Prophet row.
Both the BRICS and G7 summits are expected to delve into pressing global challenges including the Ukraine crisis. PM Modi is expected to highlight his concerns related to the Indo-Pacific with China in mind during the G-7 summit, sources told The Daily Guardian Review. As Germany and other western countries in the G-7 are also expected to persuade India to join them in condemning Russia for military operations against Ukraine, PM Modi is not going to change his position on Ukraine, sources said. “He will continue to stick to India’s neutral position, pitching for dialogue,’ highly-placed sources told this newspaper.
PM Modi will hold bilateral meetings with some of the leaders present there during his stay in Germany. Sources say that PM Modi will prominently discuss the Indo-Pacific issues against the backdrop of Chinese assertive activities. As the G7 will discuss the Indo-Pacific challenges, the Indian premier will use the forum to underline India’s views and concerns about the region as well.
Sources said that the two summits assume significance as the leaders will use the forums to shape the geo-political narrative in the backdrop of the Ukraine conflict. They will be suggesting and discussing the ways to ensure durability to a fragile economic recovery. Despite the pressure from the West, India has remained neutral on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and has bought fossil fuels from Russia. Also, New Delhi continues to engage Moscow on a variety of issues.