ÉVIAN-LES-BAINS — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is attending sessions of the Group of Seven summit as an invited partner country in Évian-les-Bains, France, amid ongoing tensions between some G7 members and China, officials said.
The 52nd G7 summit, hosted by France from June 15 to 17, includes discussions on global trade, supply chains, security issues and economic imbalances. India is participating alongside other invited partners including Brazil, South Korea and Kenya, French officials confirmed. China was not invited to the leaders’ summit.
Modi arrived in France for the event, marking India’s continued engagement with the grouping. French President Emmanuel Macron extended the invitation earlier this year, building on India’s regular participation in recent G7 outreach sessions.
The summit comes at a time of heightened geopolitical frictions, including concerns over trade imbalances and supply chain dependencies involving China. Japan and other members have expressed reservations about broader engagement with Beijing, according to reports.
Indian officials have described the participation as an opportunity to advance priorities such as deep technology, global macroeconomics and issues affecting the Global South. Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with several leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump.
“India remains a key partner for the G7 on issues of mutual interest,” a senior Indian diplomat said on condition of anonymity ahead of the meetings.
G7 leaders are expected to address a range of topics including energy security, artificial intelligence and regional conflicts. The inclusion of partner countries reflects efforts to broaden dialogue on global challenges beyond the core members — Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States, plus the European Union.
China has criticised the G7 format in the past as a “club of rich countries” and continues to question its legitimacy on certain global issues, according to statements from Chinese officials.
As of Wednesday, Modi was participating in outreach sessions. Further details on outcomes from India-specific discussions were expected later in the summit. Bilateral talks and joint statements with partner nations remain ongoing.
