Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has commenced a six-day visit to Japan, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. The visit will include participation in three key multilateral summits, namely the Group of Seven (G7) and the Quad. Over 40 engagements have been scheduled for Modi during his three-nation tour, including interactions with numerous world leaders through summits and bilateral meetings.
The Quad Summit, set to take place in Hiroshima, Japan, is anticipated to yield significant outcomes. It will be attended by Prime Minister Modi, US President Joe Biden, and leaders from Japan and Australia. India expects tangible deliverables from this summit, which will focus on various global challenges, including food, fertilizers, and energy security.
Modi’s visit to Hiroshima will primarily revolve around the annual G7 summit, where he will address global issues such as security, development, and food and energy security. Following this, he will travel to Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea to co-host the third summit of the Forum for India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) alongside Prime Minister James Marape on May 22.
In the final leg of his trip, Modi will visit Australia. He will engage in discussions with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and attend a diaspora event on May 23.
During a media briefing, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra highlighted the importance of the Quad Summit and emphasized India’s active participation in global efforts to address peace, security, and development challenges. Kwatra also mentioned India’s role as the current president of the G20 and its commitment to addressing the concerns of fellow members of the global south.
The G7 summit’s agenda encompasses topics such as nuclear disarmament, economic resilience and security, regional issues, climate change, energy security, and food and health. India’s participation will involve formal sessions on May 20 and 21.
Modi will inaugurate a Mahatma Gandhi bust in Hiroshima and hold bilateral meetings with several leaders on the sidelines of the G7 summit. When asked, Kwatra hinted that Modi may discuss incidents of attacks on Indians in Australia during his talks with the Australian counterpart.
