New Delhi: While US President Donald Trump has officially invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to join the G7 summit, likely to be held in September in America, India’s possible membership to the elite grouping may take some time, diplomatic sources told ThePrint.
According to sources, while President Trump had expressed his desire to expand the G7 membership during a phone-call with Prime Minister Modi while inviting him to attend the meet Tuesday, the “real challenge” for New Delhi begins now when it has to leverage its diplomatic weight with “each and every G7 member” to be a part of the group.
During the telephone conversation, President Trump “conveyed his desire to expand the ambit of the grouping beyond the existing membership, to include other important countries, including India,” said a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs.
The decision to expand the grouping, however, cannot be taken by the US alone. Other members such as the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Canada, have to not only agree to Trump’s proposal to expand the grouping but also on the new members that he wants to add, said a diplomatic source of one of the G7 member countries.
Lack of consensus on Trump’s expansion plans
Earlier this month, President Trump had announced that he was keen to expand the G7 and include Russia, Australia and South Korea apart from India.
On the one hand, the UK and Canada have stated they do not want Russia to re-enter the group. Moscow was ousted from the group in 2014 for its annexation of Crimea. Prior to that, the grouping was known as the G8.
On the other hand, China is upset at the plans to expand the G7, stating that such actions will result in the creation of a “small circle” against Beijing and thus such a plan is “doomed to fail”.
“A formal expansion of the grouping will require the consensus of all members, which has not happened before,” Arun K. Singh, a veteran diplomat and former Indian Ambassador to the US, told ThePrint. “This is the first time that President Trump, being the chair of the G7 grouping has expressed his proposal to expand the group. How smooth the process will be, remains to be seen. Countries such as Canada and the UK have already expressed opposition to Russia’s re-inclusion.”
Singh also said the US’ plan is also “aimed at the US Indo-Pacific strategy, since the additional countries being suggested include South Korea and Australia, both allies of the US”.
“Deliberate exclusion of China in current proposal reflects the present tensions in US-China relations, and continued effort by President Trump to project, with an eye on the US November Presidential elections, that he is tough on China, especially when he has been trying to criticise his rival for earlier having been soft on China,” he added.
Also read: US to ship 100 ventilators to India next week, Trump tells PM Modi
‘More voice for India’
PM Modi’s predecessor Manmohan Singh had attended the G7 Summits (then G8) five times — in 2005 (UK), 2006 (Russia), 2007 (Germany), 2008 (Japan) and 2009 (Italy).
For Modi, this will be his second. He had attended the outreach session of the G7 Summit last year in Biarritz, France.
“India will get more voice, more influence and more power by entering the G7. After UN Security Council (UNSC), this is the most influential grouping. If the group is expanded it will collectively address the humongous issues created by the Wuhan virus,” said Kanwal Sibal, former foreign secretary.
He, however, said India should not listen to the protest made by China in the expansion of the G7, which is “bullying India in Ladakh” and work towards joining the group.
“If G7 does get expanded, with the inclusion of India, it will certainly be useful for India, and for the group as well, since its present configuration no longer reflects global realities. India has made a similar argument for UNSC expansion,” Singh added.
Also read: India, China need to break stalemate, greater challenges ahead: Former envoy Ashok Kantha
Interpreting the prospects for India in contemporary times of 2020-21 in the light of planetary indications.
The Coronavirus pandemic officially designated as Covid-19 began to show up itself in some countries by the end of March , 2020. During this early stage when it was felt that the pandemic could assume worrisome concern in India , Prime Minister of India , Shri Narendra Modi , announced well-timed lockdown in the country in the night of 24 March , 2020. In April , 2020 , he shared with the nation that the catastrophic situation is also indicative of some message for the nation , which can be interpreted or perceived to include emergence of a global visionary perspective for India . So huge pain of Coronavirus pandemic is there but the pain has also brought with it some positive message for the country. Soon after , we began to hear near May 2020 the following inspiring visionary message in audio-video tune through news TV Channels of India : –
“ Aanewale Kal Ki Dastak Sunayi Deti Hai. Naye Josh Se Nikal Pade Hamm , Aanewala Kall Hogaa Hamara. Naye India Ka Naya Josh”.
We are continuing to hear the said inspiring message signifying a visionary sort of forecast of contemporary times for India. It can be opined that the message is attempting well to articulate something positive , some welcome hope of new India in the making. In this context , it may be apt to refer readers to this Vedic astrology writer’s one of predictions for India in article – “ Predictions for coming year 2020 by kushal kumar” – published last year 2019 on 10 October at theindiapost.com/articles/predictions-for-coming-year-2020-by-kushal-kumar/. The text looks to be reflecting or corresponding to the aforesaid visionary theme in the tune , reads like this in the article of this writer published last year 2019 on 10 October :-
“ Now something encouraging. The second half of the year from July to November 2020 looks to be addressing the setbacks or delay of the past , particularly those of first half. Some trends of success or forward movement in economic sector , political issues are likely. Cooperation or support of global powers may be seen coming. Some historic political decision is likely. The obstructive forces may weaken to some extent. Like the previous year , acceptance by global community of India’s positive role in world affairs may be in news. It seems the said period of second half in 2020 can boost up the ambitious side of the nation. Such knowledge or stuff related thereto as Yoga , Ayurveda , herbal , and spiritual side addressing material issues like health. Efforts made in the economic sector or space program are likely to meet with success bringing name”. Here , a reference to Yoga , herbal , Ayurveda and spiritual side addressing issues like health must be interpreted to include something manufactured or collaborated in India.
The aforesaid forecast interpreting ‘something encouraging’ covering about July to October or November in 2020 for India , seems to have begun to sound the nation by May 2020 on the ground , a little before the said period begins. India has got a prestigious position in the W.H.O. , an invitation to Prime Minister , Shri Narendar Modi to attend G-7 which can be interpreted to paving way for membership of G-7 countries , trust level globally for India has gained phenomenal strength , a sort of leadership comparable with the best is being recognized – world has begun to look to India with hope , and a prospect of huge unexpected manufacturing-trading activity seems to be emerging and above all , obstructive forces look to be falling in their own weight. So , briefly speaking , the forecast of a visionary period likely to emerge for India during about July to October or November 2020 , made by this writer last year 2019 on 10 October , is getting matched by actual happenings on the ground. That is why we are hearing the visionary tune a little prior of the effective period of time in the forecast.