India at G7 2025:
Advocating for Global Equity
Advitya Bahl
T
he Group of Seven (G7)—comprising Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan—has historically functioned as a collective of the world’s most advanced liberal democracies. Meeting annually, the G7 deliberates on global macroeconomic governance, international security, climate policy, trade dynamics, and emerging technologies. While the G7 remains formally exclusive, its outreach format increasingly reflects the reality that meaningful global solutions require engagement beyond the core membership.
The G7 Summit 2025 unfolded amid a shifting global order marked by economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, and an accelerating technological transition. Despite internal discord—exemplified by US President Donald Trump’s early departure—the summit yielded a set of noteworthy outcomes that reinforced the G7’s continued relevance as a forum for collective action.
Economically, the host nation, Canada, announced a series of robust financing mechanisms aimed at bolstering private sector investment in developing regions, including portfolio guarantees of up to US$ 400 million for multilateral development banks to unlock over US$ 1.6 billion in new financing for Latin America and the Caribbean. Commitments totalling nearly US$ 400 million were also made to support infrastructure development and catalyse SDG-aligned investments.
On trade and security, the finalisation of a long-pending US–UK trade agree-ment signalled progress in trans-atlantic cooperation, while Canada and the US agreed to initiate a new bilateral trade and security dialogue. In parallel, a recommitment to the AUKUS pact underscored the G7’s strategic alignment in the Indo-Pacific.
The summit was also shaped by urgent deliberations on Russia-Ukraine conflict, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and the Israel–Iran conflict. The G7 nations reiterated their backing for Israel and characterised Iran as a primary driver of instability in the Middle East, while collectively urging a wider deescalation of regional tensions.
Importantly, the summit featured expanding geopolitical outreach—most notably the participation of Prime Minister of Inida Shri Narendra Modi, who marked his sixth consecutive G7 appearance. PM Modi’s presence embodied India’s growing diplomatic weight, particularly as a representative of the Global South.
India’s Evolving Status from Peripheral Participant to Global Interlocutor
Although not a formal G7 member, India’s six consecutive invitations to the summit underscore the growing acknowledgment of its geopolitical weight and developmental leadership. This evolution signals a recalibration of the global order, wherein emerging economies like India are no longer relegated to the periphery but are active architects of international policy discourse.
India’s role at the 2025 summit was marked by more than diplomatic visibility—it was rooted in normative leadership, especially on issues pertinent to the Global South. Historically marginalised in global decision-making fora, the Global South found a clear and credible advocate in India, which articulated the collective concerns of developing nations regarding energy access, technological parity, and fair development financing.
Leading the Discourse on Energy and Climate Justice
One of the summit’s most critical thematic areas was energy security and climate cooperation, particularly in the context of a global push toward decarbonisation. Prime Minister Modi’s participation in the Outreach Session on Energy Security was emblematic of India’s dual identity—as both a developing nation with vast energy needs and a proactive contributor to global climate solutions.
India showcased its leadership through the promotion of key multilateral initiatives:
• The International Solar Alli-ance (ISA), fostering global cooperation in solar energy deployment;
• The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), supporting climate-resilient infrastructure in vulnerable regions; and
• The Global Biofuels Alli-ance, advancing clean energy transitions through sustainable biofuel adoption.
These contributions positioned India not as a passive recipient of climate aid but as a normative and technological leader, advoc-ating for a just and inclusive green transition.
Advocating for Equitable Development in Global Governance
India’s intervention at the G7 also foregrounded the persistent inequities in global systems of finance, technology, and trade. Prime Minister Modi argued for:
• Universal and affordable access to energy,
• Democratised technological innovation, and
• Structural reform of global governance institutions to reflect twenty-first-century realities.
India’s articulation of these priorities reinforced its identity as a representative voice of the Global South, urging the G7 to adopt a genuinely inclusive approach to global challenges. Such advocacy not only resonates with the moral authority of India’s democratic credentials but also aligns with its strategic interest in reshaping multilateral institutions.
Asserting Moral Leadership Against Terrorism
India’s engagement at the summit was also characterised by firm moral clarity on the issue of terrorism. Prime Minister Shri Modi thanked the G7 for condemning the Pahalgam terror attack, and reiterated the call for a unified global approach against terrorism, devoid of political double standards.
This position is consistent with India’s long-standing emphasis on counter-terrorism as a global public good, and further enhanced its image as a principled and security-conscious democracy.
India–Canada Rapproche-ment: A Strategic Reset
A notable diplomatic milestone at the summit was the bilateral engagement between Prime Minister Shri Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. After a period of strained relations, both sides committed to:
• Restoring full diplomatic representation by reinstating their high commissioners, and
• Enhancing cooperation in critical sectors such as trade, energy, space, strategic minerals, and fertilisers.
This rapprochement signalled India’s readiness to pursue principled pragmatism, wherein diplomatic normalisation is contingent on mutual respect and shared strategic objectives. It also reaffirmed India’s credibility as a mature global actor, capable of both firm negotiation and reconciliation.
Strategic Engagements on the Sidelines
On the sidelines of the summit, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi conducted a series of intensive bilateral meetings with world leaders, reflecting India’s active global diplomacy and its drive to strengthen strategic partnerships. In a single day, PM Modi held discussions with the leaders of Japan, Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico, South Korea, Australia, and South Africa, among others.
These meetings addressed a wide spectrum of issues critical to India’s interests and global priorities. With Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, PM Modi reaffirmed the commitment to deepening cooperation across sectors, particularly in technology and economic engagement. Talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni focused on expanding the already strong friendship, with both leaders expressing enthusiasm for further collaboration in trade, innovation, and people-to-people ties. In his meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, PM Modi emphasised counter-terrorism cooperation and green development, looking to advance joint efforts in sustainability and security.
PM Modi’s first-ever meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum explored oppor-tunities in trade, investment, start-ups, science and techno-logy, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals, as well as global issues affecting the Global South. His interaction with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung resulted in an agreement to deepen the Special Strategic Partnership, focusing on areas like green hydrogen, shipbuilding, emerging technologies, and cultural exchange. Meetings with leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer allowed for the exchange of perspectives on regional and global challenges, as well as reaffirmation of strong bilateral ties.
Conclusion
India’s presence at the 2025 G7 Summit was not merely a diplomatic ritual but a manifestation of its ascendant global standing. Through principled advocacy, developmental leadership, and strategic pragmatism, India advanced a compelling vision for a more equitable and multipolar international order.
In an era where the legitimacy of global governance hinges on inclusion, India has emerged not just as a participant, but as a critical voice shaping the rules, norms, and partnerships of the future. As global power continues to diffuse, India’s role—as a bridge between North and South, tradition and innovation—will be indispensable to the pursuit of collective solutions in an increasingly fragmented world.
(The author is correspondent of a leading national daily. Views expressed are personal.)