The United Kingdom has extended an invitation to the Indian Prime Minister to partake in the upcoming 47th G7 summit, scheduled for June 2021. This notable gesture reflects the nations’ shared history and mutual efforts to promote a prosperous, greener future in the face of global challenges.
Guest Nations at the Summit
Besides India, Australia and South Korea have also been invited to participate as guest countries. This reflects the UK’s and G7’s efforts to include emerging economies and invite a diversity of perspectives to the summit.
Historical Relations: UK, India & G7
The UK was the first P5 member to advocate for a permanent seat for India in the UN Security Council, as well as to extend an invitation to India for a G7 Summit in 2005. The upcoming 47th summit will be the first of its kind to take place in-person after nearly two years.
Summit’s Objective
The primary goal of the summit is to unite leading democratic countries in strategizing methods to heal the world from the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic and chart out pathways towards a greener and more prosperous future.
Understanding the Group of Seven (G-7)
Established in 1975, the G-7 is an intergovernmental organisation that convenes annually to discuss matters of common interest, including global economic governance, international security, and energy policy. Its membership comprises industrialized democracies: France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, Japan, the United States, and Canada.
Challenges and Concerns of the G-7
Despite its global reach, the G-7 faces internal policy disagreements and has been criticized for not reflecting the current state of global politics or economics. In particular, there are objections to the lack of representation from Africa, Latin America, or the Southern Hemisphere.
India and the G-7
India’s participation at the 45th Summit in Biarritz, France, marked a significant step towards its recognition as a major economic power. The nation had also been invited to the 2020 summit conducted by the USA, but the event didn’t happen due to the pandemic. Over the years, India has used this platform to articulate its core sovereign concerns and exhibit growing leadership on global issues.
The Significance of India at the G-7
India holds an influential role in the global community as it serves as the current president of the Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa (BRICS) and will assume the presidency of the G20 in 2023. These roles cement India’s position in promoting multilateral cooperation and championing global recovery efforts.
