G7 SUMMIT 2025

India participated as an Outreach Country in G7 Summit 2025.

Group of Seven (G7)

  • Formed in 1975 as G6 (US, UK, France, Italy, Japan, West Germany) in response to economic crises and oil shocks.
  • Aimed to coordinate macroeconomic policies and ensure economic stability.
  • Canada joined in 1976, becoming G7.
  • Russia joined in 1997, forming G8, but was excluded in 2014 post the Crimea annexation.
  • European Union:
    • Participates since 1981, represented by Presidents of the European Council & Commission.
    • Does not hold a rotating presidency.

Structure and Functioning of the G7

  • Nature:
    • Informal forum of wealthy democracies; no formal charter or permanent secretariat.
    • Decisions are non-binding but influential.
  • Presidency:
    • Rotates annually among member nations.
    • Host country sets the agenda and leads summit organisation.
  • Sherpas:
    • Senior officials preparing for the summit.
    • Includes political directors, FASS (Foreign Affairs Sous-Sherpa), and Finance Deputies.
    • Draft the final communiqué and coordinate policy dialogue.

G7 – Evolution of Agenda

  • Initially focused on: Macroeconomic coordination, inflation control, and oil market stability.
  • Later expanded to include:
    • Trade and investment
    • Security and terrorism
    • Climate change and biodiversity
    • Health crises (e.g., COVID-19)
    • Technological governance (e.g., AI regulation)

G7 Summit 2024 – Italy Presidency Highlights

  • Major Focus Areas:
    • Defence of the rules-based international order
    • Engagement with Africa
    • Addressing the Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Gaza conflicts
    • Strengthening ties with developing nations and emerging economies

51st G7 Summit 2025 – Kananaskis, Canada

Major Outcomes:

  • Kananaskis Wildfire Charter:
    • Aims to reverse deforestation by 2030 (in line with the Glasgow Declaration 2021).
    • India endorsed the Charter.
  • G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan:
    • Builds on Japan’s 2023 Five-Point Plan.
    • Focuses on securing resilient and sustainable mineral supply chains.
    • Supported by India.
    • Backed by the RISE Partnership (World Bank-led initiative).
  • Condemnation of Transnational Repression (TNR):
    • Denounced state-led cross-border intimidation or coercion of individuals and diaspora groups.
  • Migration and Human Trafficking:
    • Adopted the G7 Action Plan (2024) and Coalition to Prevent Smuggling of Migrants.
  • Digital and AI Initiatives:
    • Launched the G7 GovAI Grand Challenge to promote scalable AI solutions for public governance.
    • Hosted “Rapid Solution Labs” to overcome barriers in AI adoption.
    • Aims to bridge the global digital divide, aligned with the UN Global Digital Compact.

India’s Position at the Outreach Session

  • Prime Minister’s Intervention:
    • Raised critical concerns on global terrorism:
      • Will terrorism be taken seriously only when countries are individually targeted?
      • Why are perpetrators and victims treated equally?
      • Should global institutions remain mute spectators?

Significance of G7 for India

  • Platform for Engagement:
    • Offers India a voice on global economic, climate, and security issues.
    • Enhances India’s profile as a key global partner.
  • Strategic Alignment:
    • Participation aligns India with major democracies on shared concerns like terrorism, climate action, and technology governance.

The G7, while informal, continues to exert significant influence on global policy. With evolving agendas, it remains a crucial platform for dialogue among advanced economies and outreach partners like India. India’s proactive role signals its growing diplomatic and economic stature in the international order.

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