G7 Summit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently holding a crucial meeting with QUAD leaders in Japan's Hiroshima, asserted India's willingness to hold the next Quadrilateral Security Dialogue in New Delhi.
PM Modi, who embarked on three nations visit, in his first leg at the G7 Summit, stressed the importance of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region during a closed-door meeting with QUAD leaders-- US President Joe Biden, Australian PM Anthony Albanese and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida
Notably, QUAD is a strategic security dialogue between Australia, India, Japan and the United States. According to the QUAD, all four nations share common fundamental values and are committed to strengthening a free and open international order based on the rule of law. The four countries have been promoting practical cooperation in various fields, including vaccines, infrastructure, climate change, and critical and emerging technologies, to realize a "Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP)".
Recently, Australia, which is the current host of the Quad Summit, cancelled the meeting after Biden cancelled his visit at the last moment, claiming domestic issues.
Why it would be a critical test for New Delhi?
It is worth mentioning, this will be the first time for India to host the Quad summit on its soil. The meeting is considered crucial for New Delhi amid the Russia-Ukraine war and India's closeness with Moscow. If the meeting will be held in New Delhi, the topic would likely hover around the Russia-Ukraine war, which India certainly does not want.
Earlier today, PM Modi met his French Excellency Emmanuel Macron, where leaders discussed a wide range of issues including co-production and manufacturing in the defence sector and civil nuclear cooperation. According to the statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs, during the meeting, both sides emphasised cooperation in trade and economic spheres, civil aviation, renewables and culture. Besides, both leaders also agreed to expand the partnership to newer domains.
