Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on his first overseas trip to Italy within days of his swearing-in ceremony. After winning the Lok Sabha elections and taking his oath on June 8, PM Modi will head to Italy on the invitation of his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, to attend the G7 Summit.
Invitation from Italy
PM Modi received a personal invitation from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni over the phone to attend the G7 Summit in Italy. He thanked PM Meloni for the invite and greeted the people of Italy on their 79th anniversary of Liberation Day. The G7 Summit will take place from June 13 to 15 in Borgo Egnazia, Apulia.
PM Modi’s Statement
After his conversation with PM Meloni, PM Modi stated, “Thanked her for the invite to the G7 Summit in June. Discussed taking forward the G20 India outcomes at the G7. Reaffirmed the commitment to deepening our strategic partnership.”
Potential Visit to Switzerland
In addition to the G7 Summit, PM Modi has also been formally invited to the ‘Summit of Peace in Ukraine’ in Burgenstock, Switzerland, scheduled from June 15 to 16. However, it remains uncertain if he will attend this event, as Russia has not been invited. The Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs highlighted the meeting’s goal is for world leaders to develop a path toward a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.
India’s Stance on Peace
India has consistently supported a peaceful resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. PM Modi’s statement, “this is no era for war,” has been widely quoted, reflecting India’s emphasis on dialogue and diplomacy.
Confirmation Pending
Despite the invitations, there is no official confirmation yet on whether PM Modi will attend the Peace summit. During the weekly briefing, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, indicated that an official announcement would be made closer to the dates.
Italy’s G7 Presidency
Italy, which holds the G7 rotating presidency this year, aims to turn off its coal-power plants by 2025, except for those on the island of Sardinia, where the deadline is 2028.
The G7 countries include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US, with the EU participating in discussions as a guest.
During his visit he will meet the US President and other G7 leaders.
In July Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to travel to Kazakhstan to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit. At the two days summit on July 3-4 he is likely to meet the Presidents of Russia, China, and Central Asian countries and also the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif.