PM Modi to visit Italy this week for G7 summit in first trip abroad in third term.

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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is gearing up for his first trip abroad since assuming office for his third consecutive term. He will be attending the annual summit of G7 advanced economies in Italy. The summit will take place at the luxurious Borgo Egnazia resort in Italy’s Apulia region from June 13 to 15.

The agenda of the summit is expected to be dominated by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip. Several world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, will be in attendance. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also scheduled to discuss the Russian invasion of his country.

Modi is scheduled to depart for Italy on June 13 and return late on June 14. This trip marks his first international visit since beginning his third term as prime minister. While there has been no official announcement regarding Modi’s visit, sources familiar with the matter have confirmed his plans.

Accompanying Modi on this trip will be a high-level delegation, including External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra, and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. The prime minister is expected to engage in several bilateral meetings, including one with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

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Modi has previously attended the G7 summit in Hiroshima in May of last year. During that summit, he held discussions with President Zelenskyy and other world leaders.

The G7 consists of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, and Japan. Italy currently holds the presidency of the G7 and is hosting the summit in that capacity. The Italian presidency has been focused on defending the rules-based international system, which has been undermined by Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, leading to increased global instability.

The summit will also address the conflict in the Middle East and its impact on the global agenda. The G7 expanded into the G8 from 1997 to 2013, with Russia’s inclusion. However, Russia’s participation was suspended in 2014 following its annexation of Crimea.

In line with tradition, the host nation invites representatives from various countries and international organizations to the summit. In addition to India, Italy has invited leaders from 11 developing countries in Africa, South America, and the Indo-Pacific region to attend the summit.

Although the European Union is not a member of the G7, it participates in the annual summit. The G7 summit provides an opportunity for world leaders to discuss pressing global issues and collaborate on finding solutions.