- News
- Women
- Magazine
- IndustryIndustry
- InsightsInsights
- Success Stories
- PublishPublish
- ContactContact
- Media KitMedia Kit
When leaders of the world's major economies gathered in Évian, France, for the G7 Summit 2026, India was once again present not as a member, but as one of the most consequential participants. Over two days of intensive diplomacy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a series of high-level meetings with leaders from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the European Union, Ukraine and the United Arab Emirates, while also addressing key summit sessions focused on economic growth, connectivity, artificial intelligence and international cooperation.
The summit highlighted a significant reality of contemporary geopolitics: India may not formally belong to the G7, but its economic weight, strategic importance and growing global influence have made it indispensable to discussions on trade, technology, energy security, supply chains, climate action and global governance.
More importantly, the summit demonstrated India's ability to simultaneously strengthen ties with Western economies, champion the interests of the Global South and position itself as a key architect of the emerging multipolar world order.
The G7 comprises the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan. While India is not a permanent member, it has become a regular invitee due to its growing economic and geopolitical importance.
With a population of over 1.4 billion people, status as the world's fastest-growing major economy and increasing influence across the Indo-Pacific, India today occupies a unique position between developed economies and the developing world. This role was evident throughout the summit, where Prime Minister Modi repeatedly emphasised the need for inclusive growth, resilient supply chains and stronger engagement with the Global South.
Addressing the Outreach Session on "Reviving a Balanced, Shared and Sustainable Economic Growth for All", PM Modi argued that economic growth should not be measured merely through GDP figures or trade volumes.
"The real question is who benefits from growth, who is included in it, and what direction it is taking," he stated.
Drawing from India's development journey, he highlighted the principle of "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas" as the foundation of both India's domestic development model and its international engagement.
One of the most significant proposals made by India during the summit was the creation of the International Mobilisation Partnership for Accelerating Connectivity and Trade (IMPACT).
Building upon the vision of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), PM Modi proposed a framework that would combine the capital of G7 nations, India's talent and expertise, and the ownership of developing countries across the Global South.
The proposal aims to create new corridors connecting trade, technology, energy and investment across Africa, Latin America and Pacific Island nations. The initiative reflects India's broader ambition to become a bridge between advanced economies and developing nations while promoting transparent and sustainable connectivity projects.
The proposal also reinforces India's growing role as a provider of development solutions rather than merely a beneficiary of international initiatives.
The most closely watched engagement of the summit was undoubtedly the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and United States President Donald Trump.
The meeting came after a period of turbulence in India-US relations. Over the past year, the two countries have navigated disagreements over tariffs, immigration restrictions, Trump's comments on India-Pakistan relations and concerns arising from the deaths of three Indian sailors in a US military strike near Oman.
Against this backdrop, the meeting in Évian marked a visible effort by both sides to restore momentum and reaffirm the strategic partnership.
Prime Minister Modi congratulated Trump on his efforts to bring about an understanding aimed at ending the conflict in West Asia and restoring stability in the region. He also raised the issue of maritime security, freedom of navigation and the safety of Indian seafarers working across global shipping routes.
The safety of Indian sailors became a central theme of the discussion following the deaths of three Indian seafarers in a US military operation near the Gulf of Oman. PM Modi emphasised that hundreds of thousands of Indian seafarers contribute to global maritime trade and that their protection remains a matter of utmost importance for India.
The leaders also discussed the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open, recognising its critical role in global energy supplies and international commerce.
For India, the issue carries particular significance. The country imports nearly 90 per cent of its crude oil requirements, and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have direct implications for energy prices, inflation and economic growth.
Perhaps the most important outcome of the Modi-Trump meeting was the progress reported on the proposed India-US trade agreement.
Both leaders expressed satisfaction with the substantial progress achieved in negotiations toward an interim Bilateral Trade Agreement. The announcement that US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will visit India next week suggests negotiations have entered a decisive phase.
The two sides directed officials to work toward a balanced, mutually beneficial and commercially meaningful agreement at the earliest opportunity.
Trump publicly described PM Modi as a "tough negotiator" and acknowledged that negotiations had been challenging. However, he also stated that the two countries were "very close" to finalising a deal.
The trade agreement is expected to become one of the most significant economic arrangements between the two countries in recent years, with implications across manufacturing, technology, services, agriculture and investment.
The ongoing conflict in West Asia cast a shadow over many discussions at the summit.
In multiple sessions and bilateral meetings, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the economic consequences of disruptions to fuel, fertiliser and food supply chains caused by instability in the region.
He warned that the impact would be felt most acutely by developing nations and called for greater international solidarity in supporting vulnerable economies.
India also stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of maritime routes and maintaining uninterrupted commercial navigation through strategic waterways such as the Strait of Hormuz.
The issue emerged as one of India's most consistent priorities throughout the summit, reflecting the country's dependence on stable energy supplies and secure shipping lanes.
Another major breakthrough came in India's engagement with the European Union.
Prime Minister Modi met European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa on the sidelines of the summit.
The leaders welcomed the conclusion of negotiations on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement and described it as a historic achievement.
Both sides stressed the importance of signing and implementing the agreement at the earliest possible opportunity.
According to von der Leyen, the agreement is expected to be formally signed before the end of 2026.
The India-EU FTA is expected to unlock substantial opportunities for trade, investment and supply-chain diversification. In an era marked by geopolitical uncertainty and economic fragmentation, the agreement could significantly strengthen economic ties between two of the world's largest democratic and market-oriented regions.
The leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to advancing the Joint India-EU Comprehensive Strategic Agenda launched earlier this year.
Prime Minister Modi's meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer produced another major economic outcome.
Both leaders confirmed that the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement will come into force on 15 July 2026.
The agreement is expected to boost bilateral trade, investment and business collaboration across multiple sectors.
PM Modi stated that the deal would create opportunities for Indian farmers, workers, startups, innovators and micro, small and medium enterprises, while contributing to India's long-term economic vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.
The implementation date marks the transition from negotiation to execution and represents one of the most significant trade developments for India in recent years.
One of the most notable diplomatic developments at the summit was the continued improvement in India-Canada relations.
Prime Minister Modi met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney amid a steadily improving relationship that has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past year.
Relations between the two countries had deteriorated sharply following allegations made by former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau linking Indian officials to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023. India strongly rejected those allegations, leading to diplomatic expulsions and a severe downturn in bilateral engagement.
The meeting in Évian highlighted how rapidly the relationship has improved under the leadership of Mark Carney.
The two leaders welcomed the positive momentum in bilateral ties and agreed to launch negotiations on a General Security of Information Agreement (GSOIA), a framework designed to facilitate deeper defence and security cooperation.
The agreement could eventually enable greater intelligence sharing and strategic collaboration between the two countries.
Both leaders also expressed satisfaction with progress in negotiations toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with a shared objective of concluding discussions in 2026.
A successful conclusion of trade negotiations could pave the way for Prime Minister Modi to visit Canada later this year.
Beyond trade, India used the summit to deepen strategic partnerships with several key countries.
In discussions with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the two leaders reviewed progress in bilateral relations and welcomed the conclusion of India-EU FTA negotiations. They reaffirmed cooperation across trade, defence, technology, sustainable development, education and mobility.
As India and Germany celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations in 2026, both sides committed to further strengthening the strategic partnership.
Prime Minister Modi also met UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, marking their third meeting this year. The continued engagement underscores the growing strategic importance of India-UAE relations in areas including energy, investment, technology and regional stability.
Another important dimension of India's participation was its engagement in discussions on artificial intelligence.
Prime Minister Modi participated in a working lunch focused on the safe, rapid and effective deployment of AI, alongside leaders from G7 nations and chief executives of major technology companies.
The discussions reflected India's ambition to become a major global player in emerging technologies while advocating for responsible and inclusive innovation.
The theme will continue in Paris, where PM Modi is attending VivaTech 2026 alongside French President Emmanuel Macron.
India's presence as the largest national pavilion at Europe's premier technology and startup event highlights the country's growing stature within the global innovation ecosystem.
Perhaps the most defining feature of India's participation was its continued advocacy for developing nations.
Throughout the summit, PM Modi repeatedly emphasised the need to ensure that the burdens of global crises are not disproportionately borne by poorer countries.
He called on international financial institutions to create mechanisms that enhance economic resilience among developing nations and proposed stronger cooperation on connectivity, trade and skilled mobility.
India's message was clear: global growth must be inclusive, sustainable and representative of the aspirations of emerging economies.
This approach reinforces India's position as a leading voice of the Global South and a country capable of bridging divides between developed and developing nations.
The G7 Summit 2026 demonstrated that India's influence on the global stage continues to expand.
While not a formal member of the G7, India emerged as one of the summit's most active and consequential participants. The country secured progress on major trade agreements with the United States, European Union, United Kingdom and Canada, advanced discussions on energy security and maritime stability, proposed new frameworks for global connectivity and reinforced its position as a champion of the Global South.
The summit also showcased India's ability to engage simultaneously with Western powers, emerging economies and regional partners while maintaining strategic autonomy.
As global politics becomes increasingly multipolar, India's role is no longer confined to being a participant in international conversations. It is increasingly helping shape them.
The events in Évian made one thing clear: India's voice is now central to discussions on trade, technology, connectivity, energy security and the future of global governance.
Follow us on Google News
