Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged G7 nations to ensure the safety of seafarers and keep global maritime routes secure, saying the conflict in West Asia had already claimed Indian lives and disrupted international trade through the Strait of Hormuz.
Addressing the outreach session of the G7 Summit in Evian, Modi said the violence in the region had inflicted heavy losses on India’s friendly countries and adversely affected the global economy.
“Many Indian civilians have lost their lives. It is our responsibility to ensure the safety of the seafarers who connect nations through global maritime trade. We must ensure that maritime routes remain secure and that seafarers can perform their duties without fear," the Prime Minister said.
His remarks come days after three Indian nationals were killed in attacks on commercial vessels in the region, highlighting the growing risks to critical sea lanes vital for energy supplies and world trade.
Welcoming recent progress in peace efforts in West Asia, Modi said tensions and conflicts across the world could be resolved only through dialogue, diplomacy and international cooperation.
In a wider message to world leaders, the Prime Minister said the world was facing not a shortage of resources but a “shortage of trust", arguing that mutual trust had become the most important strategic asset in an increasingly interconnected world.
“Trust that technology and supply chains will be used for the global good, not as weapons. Trust that development opportunities will not be limited to a select few nations. Trust that global institutions will be capable of fulfilling the aspirations of all countries," he said.
Quoting former US President Ronald Reagan’s famous dictum, “Trust, but verify", Modi called for building a rules-based international order suited to the challenges of a new era.
He said the Covid-19 pandemic had exposed the fragility of global solidarity and underscored the need to rebuild confidence among nations.
Highlighting India’s approach to international cooperation, Modi said New Delhi had acted as a “first responder" during crises and supplied medicines and vaccines to over 150 countries during the pandemic.
He also called for a shift in engagement with developing countries, saying the Global South sought “partnership, not patronage".
“We must move beyond the donor-recipient mindset and work as equal partners," he said.
The Prime Minister reiterated India’s readiness to work with all countries to address common challenges and strengthen international cooperation.
The outreach session, hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, focused on forging new partnerships and rebuilding international solidarity amid mounting geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty.
