The 51st G7 Summit

General Studies Paper-2

Context

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi held productive exchanges with G7 leaders on key global challenges during the G-7 Outreach Summit at Kananaskis in Canada.

About

• This year’s G-7 Outreach Summit, being hosted by Canada, is themed around three core pillars of “protecting our communities around the world”, “building energy security and accelerating the digital transition” and “securing the partnerships of the future”.
• In 2025, G7 partners are marking 50 years of partnership and cooperation.
• This was the Prime Minister’s sixth consecutive participation in the G-7 Summit.
• He addressed a Session on ‘Energy Security: diversification, technology and infrastructure to ensure access and affordability in a changing world’
• Ensuring affordable, reliable and sustainable energy is India’s priority.
• India highlighted the priorities of the Global South.
• Besides the summit, PM Modi is expected to participate in four bilateral meetings with the leaders of Germany, Canada, Ukraine and Italy.

Group of Seven (G7)

• The Group of Seven (G7) is an informal grouping of 7 of the world’s advanced economies and the European Union.
• Its members meet annually at the G7 Summit to discuss global economic and geopolitical issues.
• The G7 was founded in 1975 in response to the oil crisis, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States formed the Group of Six.
• Canada joined in 1976, forming the G7.
• These countries represent about 10% of the world’s population and nearly 30% of the global economy by GDP.
• The European Union has observer status, and is excluded from the rotating chairmanship.
• With the inclusion of Russia in 1998, the group temporarily became the G8.
• In 2014, the group returned to the G7 format.
• Mandate: The topics at the G7 Summit change every year, depending on what’s happening in the world. Some common areas include:
  • International peace and security;
  • Economic growth and inflation;
  • Climate change and energy use;
  • Artificial Intelligence and technology;
  • Health and future pandemic response;
  • Trade policies and supply chains;
• The goal is to find solutions that benefit not just G7 countries, but the entire world.
• The changing agenda and thematic priorities of the G7 are determined by the respective presidency.
• Decisions are usually taken by consensus.

India’s Growing Role At G7 Summits:

• India, though not a formal member of the G7 has been recognised as a powerful and influential global player.
• India has been consistently invited to the G7 Summits as an outreach partner since 2003, reflecting its growing economic and geopolitical significance.
• India has been invited to attend the G7 Summit outreach sessions more than eleven times, and every year since 2019.
• This frequent inclusion underscores India’s role as the world’s fifth-largest economy and a key voice for the Global South in addressing global challenges such as climate change, energy security, and economic development.

Why The G7 Summit is Important?

• Economic Influence: The G7 comprises some of the world’s largest and most advanced economies.
  • Its members collectively represent a significant share of global GDP and trade, giving the group substantial influence over international markets and economic policymaking.
• Global Impact of Decisions: Decisions and commitments made at G7 summits can have far-reaching effects on global trade, financial stability, climate policy, and humanitarian efforts.
• Crisis Coordination Platform: The G7 serves as a critical forum for coordinating international responses to global challenges, such as economic downturns, pandemics, wars, and geopolitical tensions.
• Symbol of Multilateralism: The G7 exemplifies the principles of multilateral cooperation and consensus-building among major powers, reinforcing a rules-based international order.