PM Modi accepts Trump invite for G-7 summit

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 2

Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his concern over the civil disturbances in the US and in a telephonic conversation with President Donald Trump on Tuesday expressed his best wishes for early resolution of the issue.

Trump had called Modi to invite him for the G-7 summit he will host in September. Earlier in the day, Trump phoned Russian President Valdimir Putin and Australian PM Scott Morrison to invite them for the summit. Putin gave no indication of accepting the invitation while both Modi and Morrison have agreed to attend the summit. Trump is yet to speak to South Korean President.

While postponing the summit to September, Trump had called the G-7 outdated and suggested it be expanded to include four more countries – India, Australia, South Korea and Russia.

In the conversation with Modi, he conveyed his desire to expand the grouping to include other important countries including India. “In this context, he extended an invitation to Prime Minister Modi to attend the next G-7 Summit to be held in the US,” stated an official news release.

Trump’s plan to include the four countries has already run into problems both from his allies as well as China which it intends to isolate by expanding G-7. The UK and Canada are opposed to the inclusion of Russia while Germany and France are ambivalent. China had opposed the entire expansion move.

“Targeting China and leaving Beijing out of important circles will not win trust. This is not in the interests of the countries,” said Chinese Foreign Office spokesperson Zhao Lijian.

PM Modi commended Trump for his “creative and far-sighted approach” and acknowledged that an expanded forum would be in keeping with the emerging realities of the post-Covid world. “The PM said India would be happy to work with the US and other countries to ensure the success of the proposed Summit,” said the release.