Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for India on Friday, 14 June 2024, after completing his one-day visit to Italy. During the visit, he participated in the G7 summit and conducted bilateral meetings with several global leaders, including British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, French President Emmanuel Macron, US President Joe Biden, and Pope Francis.

"Had a very productive day at the G7 Summit in Apulia. Interacted with world leaders and discussed various subjects. Together, we aim to create impactful solutions that benefit the global community and create a better world for future generations. I thank the people and government of Italy for their warm hospitality," PM Modi wrote on X on Saturday morning.

Modi also engaged in a separate conversation with Joe Biden. This interaction occurred nearly seven months after Washington's allegations of an Indian connection to a foiled plot to assassinate Sikh separatist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.

After his meeting with Biden, PM Modi wrote on X that India and the United States will keep working together to further global good.

Amid India's ongoing tension with Canada regarding the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year, Prime Minister Modi had a brief meeting with Justin Trudeau.

"Met Canadian PM @JustinTrudeau at the G7 Summit," he wrote on the social media website.

Trudeau’s office claimed on Friday the two leaders had an interaction on the sidelines of the summit. The former “congratulated Prime Minister Modi on his reelection and the leaders had a brief discussion on the bilateral relationship,” a spokesperson, Ann-Clara Vaillancourt, was quoted as saying by news agency Bloomberg.

In September last year, Indo-Canadian ties came under severe strain after Trudeau alleged "potential" involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar in British Columbia.

New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charges, calling them "absurd" and “motivated.”

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi addressed the event, emphasising the need to end monopoly in technology, with a particular focus on artificial intelligence.

On the sidelines of the event, he also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

The invitation extended to PM Modi for the G7 summit signifies India's increasing importance in the West's strategy to counter the rapid rise of China.

In addition to India, the hosts invited leaders from 11 developing countries, including those in the Indo-Pacific region.

Image source: AFP