APART from the signing of the peace deal between the United States and Iran to end the long-stretched war, the other event of significant interest for the world was the Group of 7 summit in France. It was keenly watched by the world for the collective sentiment emerging from the grouping on future international affairs and the trajectory of country-to-country relations in the changing geopolitical landscape. The occasion was neatly and smartly timed by the Indian diplomatic apparatus as Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi made a strong pitch for an order-based world seeking peace, cooperation and collective growth. India’s voice reverberated strongly in the summit and the world once again realised the important place Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi commands in the top bracket of global leadership. The most watched event on the sidelines of the G-7 meeting was the bilateral between Mr. Modi and United States President Mr. Donald Trump.

 

The two leaders were meeting in person after a long gap of 16 months and in the wake of the disturbing incident of US military attack killing three Indian seafarers off the Oman coast. Mr. Modi did not flinch from raising the issue of safety of Indian seafarers with Mr. Trump even as he told the US President that it was time to end the conflict with Iran and keep the Strait of Hormuz open. The message was in clear and simple terms with Mr. Modi talking on behalf of the entire South-East Asian nations which are severely affected by the closure of the maritime waterway. Even as he praised Mr. Trump for the peace deal with Iran, Mr. Modi did not let the opportunity go to tell him that freedom of navigation is a right for every country and no one should turn a maritime waterway into a strategic leverage to settle political scores. It was the subtle shift in his tone and tenor which marked Mr. Modi’s approach to the US President. He did not indulge in exchanging too much bonhomie but never did Mr. Modi let Mr. Trump feel that India was averse to carrying on strategic relations with the US.

 

This is despite the wrong noises made by the Trump administration and the unilateral decisions by the maverick US President demeaning India and its people. New Delhi showed great patience and understanding of a larger picture and Mr. Modi presented India as an equal during the bilateral meeting with Mr. Trump. Similar exchanges marked Mr. Modi’s trip to France even as world leaders showed tremendous gratitude towards India for becoming a partner in the future journey. The European Union, the United Kingdom, hosts France, Italy, Japan and many other countries spelled out their plans to forge partnership with India during the summit, reflecting the growing stature of the Indian economy and the high trust put in the Indian way of carrying out business around the world. The effort to make the other partner a welcome ally by keeping transactionalism off the shelf makes India a worthy partner for the world. With its fast growing economy and ability to sustain headwinds caused by geopolitical tensions, India has emerged as a destination where critical sectors are set to experience an incremental growth.

 

The world is realising the power India holds and Mr. Modi presented the same power as a true statesman seeking welfare of all. What stood out during the G-7 meeting was Mr. Modi’s pitch for a global framework to boost cooperation on connectivity and trade by combining the strengths of G-7 nations, India and the Global South countries. It was a truly inclusive idea that the Prime Minister presented to the summit under the IMPACT proposal. The idea not only reflected India’s willingness to become the pivot of a collective international society but also put forth the core essence of its ancient philosophy of ‘walking together to cover a long distance’. In the current world full of hegemonic designs and trigger-happy leaders, Mr. Modi decided to change the winds by offering an idea of coming together and staying together. It was India’s voice -- or reason and peace.