Why India can play a bigger role as the G7 evolves
Why India can play a bigger role as the G7 evolves
Why India can play a bigger – Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s participation in the G7 Summit as a special guest of French President Emmanuel Macron provides a chance to reconsider India’s evolving significance within the group. This event underscores how swiftly time has passed and how India’s involvement in such forums has become increasingly routine.
Historical Context
Evian holds particular historical weight. It was here in 2003 that India, led by PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, first joined a G7 Summit, invited by then-French President Jacques Chirac. Since then, India has consistently participated in the G7’s outreach meetings, totaling 12 sessions. The Evian summit marks Modi’s seventh such appearance, reflecting a sustained engagement over the past two decades.
Global Economic Shifts
The G7, representing the world’s most advanced western economies, has long been a cornerstone of global leadership. France’s strategic vision for India, initiated 23 years ago, remains validated today. India’s GDP has expanded sevenfold since 2003, reaching $4 trillion. While external disruptions since 2020 have tempered growth, it still holds the title of the fastest-growing major economy.
Current Global Challenges
Amid rising global tensions, India stands as a rare source of stability. In 2003, the world grappled with the U.S.-led “war on terror,” epitomized by the Iraq invasion. Now, the planet faces concurrent conflicts, strained Europe-Russia relations, an energy crisis, and fractures within the G7 itself. The U.S. and China are both reshaping global economic dynamics, with the G7’s share of world GDP dropping from 64% to 45% since 2003.
Mutual Strategic Imperatives
The G7 and India are now interdependent. India’s integration into global supply chains and technological networks with the G7 will influence the balance of power in the coming decade. Its stake in resolving the Ukraine conflict and the Iran war is critical, as these wars strain the global economy and heighten geopolitical uncertainty.
Modi’s address to G7 leaders will focus on forging new alliances, revitalizing economic growth, and advancing artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives. This comes against the backdrop of a transformed India-Europe relationship, symbolized by the India-EU Free Trade Agreement. The pact is expected to create one of the largest markets globally, cementing Europe’s economic ties with India.
Innovation and Partnerships
France has emerged as a key ally, strengthening its role as India’s defense partner and gateway to the European market. Collaborations on the International Solar Alliance have evolved into joint efforts in shaping AI governance, with 2026 declared the Year of Innovation. At VivaTech 2026 in Paris, India will present its MANAV framework—a model for AI governance rooted in democratic values and the priorities of the Global South.
Before the G7 Summit, Modi and Macron will launch “Bharat Innovates” in Nice, a hub of France’s research and innovation sector. The event will highlight over 120 Indian deep-tech startups across 13 critical fields, alongside top higher education institutions. This underscores India’s ambition to solidify its position as a global innovation leader. By 2030, India’s startup ecosystem is projected to surpass $1.5 trillion in value.
Geopolitical Milestones
Modi’s upcoming visit to Slovakia will also be notable as the first by an Indian prime minister since the nation’s independence in 1993. This move highlights India’s expanding diplomatic footprint and its growing influence in Europe’s strategic calculus.