Why in news?
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar attended the G7 Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Paris in late March 2026. On the sidelines he met French President Emmanuel Macron and conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He urged the G7 to listen to the concerns of the Global South and emphasised the importance of resilient trade routes amid turbulence in West Asia.
Background
The Group of Seven (G7) is an informal bloc of seven industrialised democracies – Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States – along with the European Union. It began in 1975 as the Group of Six to coordinate responses to economic crises and expanded to include Canada the following year. The presidency rotates annually among members, who set the agenda for discussions on economic, security, climate and development issues.
Key messages from India
- Global South’s voice: Jaishankar highlighted that issues such as food, fuel and energy security disproportionately affect developing countries. He encouraged the G7 to reform global governance to better represent emerging economies.
- Resilient connectivity: He promoted the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as a way to strengthen supply chains and build alternative trade routes. He noted that conflicts in the Red Sea and West Asia underscore the need for diversified and secure lines of communication.
- Technological and cultural cooperation: In meetings with Macron and other leaders, Jaishankar discussed cooperation in technology, innovation and cultural exchanges, building on the momentum of Macron’s visit to India earlier in 2026.
India and the G7
Although India is not a G7 member, it is regularly invited to outreach sessions as a major global economy. By engaging with the G7, India seeks to shape rules on trade, technology and climate that reflect the interests of developing nations. The meeting in Paris offered an opportunity to advocate for a fairer world order while strengthening bilateral ties with France and other G7 partners.
