G7 Summit: Will PM Modi And President Biden Meet In Italy? Here's What US Says

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden are anticipated to meet during the G7 Summit in Italy, the White House announced on Wednesday.

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, while briefing reporters about President Biden's visit to Italy, indicated that Biden is looking forward to meeting Prime Minister Modi at the summit.

G7 Summit: PM Modi-Biden Meeting in Italy?

"He (Biden) expects to see Prime Minister Modi here. It is up to the Indians to formally confirm his attendance, but our expectation is that the two of them will have the opportunity to encounter one another," Sullivan mentioned. Sullivan added that the specifics of the encounter are still being finalized due to the dynamic nature of the summit schedule.

He also revealed that President Biden has already extended his congratulations to Prime Minister Modi for securing another term in office. "President Biden actually spoke with Prime Minister Modi by phone while we were in Paris to congratulate him on the election outcome and on being named Prime Minister for a third term," he said, as reported by Hindustan Times.

The most recent meeting between the two leaders occurred at the COP28 Summit in Abu Dhabi last year. Prime Minister Modi's visit to Italy, marking his first foreign tour since beginning his third consecutive term in office, has been confirmed by Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra. India has been invited to attend the G7 Summit on June 14 as an Outreach Country.

The 50th G7 Summit is set to take place from June 13 to 15 at the Borgo Egnazia resort in Italy's Apulia region. This will be India's 11th participation in the G7 Summit and Prime Minister Modi's fifth consecutive attendance, as per media reports.

During his visit, Prime Minister Modi is expected to engage in bilateral discussions with leaders of the G7, Outreach nations, and various international organizations. Foreign Secretary Kwatra noted, "It will also afford him an opportunity to engage with other world leaders present at the G7 Summit on issues of importance to India as also to the Global South."