Prime Minister Narendra Modi is traveling to France and Slovakia to attend the G7 summit and hold bilateral talks [1].

This diplomatic mission is significant because it positions India as a primary voice for the Global South within a forum traditionally dominated by the world's wealthiest industrialized nations. By leveraging the G7 platform, India seeks to influence global governance on issues that disproportionately affect developing economies.

The G7 summit is scheduled to take place in Evian‑les‑Bains from June 15 to 17, 2024 [3]. During the summit, India intends to raise critical challenges facing the Global South, specifically focusing on economic instability, energy security, and ongoing global conflicts [4], [5]. The prime minister also plans to address the governance of artificial intelligence and other technological hurdles that impact emerging markets [4].

Beyond the multilateral summit, the prime minister has scheduled bilateral visits for June 16 and 17, 2024 [2]. These meetings are designed to strengthen strategic ties with France, with a particular emphasis on expanding cooperation in defense and technology [1].

Additionally, the itinerary includes a visit to Slovakia [1]. This trip is described as a historic visit, marking a push to diversify India's diplomatic engagements within Europe [1]. The combination of the G7 summit and these specific bilateral visits allows India to balance its role as a global mediator with its need for specific security and technological partnerships.

Modi's presence at the summit in France also presents a potential diplomatic encounter with Donald Trump [3]. The Indian leadership is using this window to ensure that the concerns of developing nations are not sidelined by the geopolitical priorities of the G7 members [4].

“India intends to raise issues affecting the Global South.”

This tour signals India's ambition to move beyond a regional power to a global bridge-builder. By aligning its bilateral goals in France and Slovakia with a broader 'Global South' agenda at the G7, India is attempting to institutionalize its role as the representative for developing nations in high-level Western diplomatic circles.