Prime Minister Narendra Modi will journey to Italy on Thursday to attend the G7 Summit on June 13 and 14, marking his first international trip since securing a record-equalling third term.
As an Outreach Country, India joins the Summit alongside the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, France, and the European Union. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni extended the invitation, marking India’s 11th Summit presence and Modi’s fifth consecutive attendance.
On the sidelines, Modi is slated for bilateral discussions with G7 leaders, including US President Joe Biden. On Wednesday, National Security Advisor (NSA) Jake Sullivan said that Biden and PM Modi would likely “have the opportunity to encounter one another” on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Italy.
“He (Biden) expects to see Prime Minister Modi here. It’s up to the Indians to formally confirm his attendance, but our expectation is that the two of them will have the opportunity to encounter one another. The nature of that encounter is still fluid because so much of the schedule is fluid,” Sullivan told reporters aboard Air Force One on his way to Italy to attend the G7 Summit, along with the US president.
Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra announced in New Delhi that PM Modi will embark on his first overseas trip to Italy on Thursday after securing a third consecutive term. Before his visit, a Gandhi statue in Italy was defaced by pro-Khalistani groups with a slogan referencing Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Indian authorities have addressed the issue with their Italian counterparts.
“We have the question relating to the vandalization of the statue of Mahatma Gandhi. We have seen the reports of that and we have taken it up with the Italian authorities. We understand that suitable rectification has already taken place,” the Foreign Secretary said during the press conference.
On Tuesday, Kwatra confirmed that Modi will meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, but details of other bilateral meetings are still being finalized. Meanwhile, aboard Air Force One, Sullivan mentioned that Biden called Modi from Paris to congratulate him on his election victory and his third term as Prime Minister.