India's Participation in the 51st G7 Summit

India participated as an Outreach Country in the 51st G7 Summit held in Kananaskis, Canada in 2025.

Key Outcomes of the 51st G7 Summit (2025):

1. Kananaskis Wildfire Charter:

   • A "whole of society" approach was adopted to tackle wildfires, incorporating Indigenous knowledge, sustainable forest management, and awareness campaigns. India endorsed this approach, reflecting its commitment to climate resilience.

   G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan:

   • The G7 committed to securing sustainable and resilient supply chains for critical minerals, which are crucial for technological advancements and renewable energy infrastructure.

   Key Initiatives on Artificial Intelligence (AI):

   • The G7 launched the GovAI Grand Challenge and created a shared G7 AI Network (GAIN) to foster collaboration in AI development, with a focus on ethical AI, transparency, data protection, and cybersecurity.

About the Group of Seven (G7):

• Genesis:

  • Established in 1975 in response to the energy crisis and global economic instability. The G7 was initially formed as a platform for industrialized democracies to discuss economic and financial cooperation.

  Member Countries:

  • The G7 includes France, Germany, Italy, UK, Japan, US, and Canada.

  • Russia was a member from 1998 to 2014, but was suspended after its annexation of Crimea in 2014, resulting in the G7 being reduced to the current seven countries.

  Purpose and Agenda:

  • The G7 meets annually to discuss global economic governance, international security, energy policies, and other critical issues impacting the global order.

Contemporary Relevance of the G7:

1. Global Security and Conflict Response:

   • Ukraine Crisis: The G7 has played a crucial role in coordinating sanctions against Russia and providing financial aid to Ukraine through frozen Russian assets.

   • China Policy: In 2025, the G7 strongly condemned China's coercion toward Taiwan, marking a significant shift by dropping reference to the One China policy. Additionally, the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) was launched to counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

   Influence on Global Institutions:

   • The G7 influences key global institutions like the UN, IMF, and World Bank, and supports initiatives like the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework to ensure fair global tax rules and to curb money laundering through the FATF (Financial Action Task Force).

   Sustainability and Digital Governance:

   • The G7 promotes sustainable development through initiatives like the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), which focuses on ethical AI and data protection. It also promotes global cooperation to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 through the G7 Climate Club.

   Engagement with the Global South:

   • The G7 actively engages with non-member nations such as India, South Africa, Brazil, and other emerging powers to better represent the Global South in its agenda-setting.

   A “Club of Democracies”:

   • The G7 is often seen as a core alliance championing a rules-based international order, human rights, and democratic norms, providing a counterbalance to authoritarian regimes like China and Russia.

Challenges Facing the G7:

1. Declining Economic Dominance:

   • The G7’s share of global GDP has dropped from around 70% in the 1980s to approximately 44% in 2021. Meanwhile, emerging economies, particularly China and India, now drive much of the global economic growth.

   Consensus-Based Decision-Making:

   • The G7's decision-making process, based on consensus, often leads to slow or ineffective actions. For instance, the 51st G7 was unable to issue a strong statement on the Ukraine war due to differing views among member states.

   Lack of Legal Authority:

   • As an informal forum, the G7 lacks binding legal authority, meaning that decisions, like the Kananaskis Wildfire Charter, depend on voluntary compliance, limiting its ability to enforce change effectively.

   Underrepresentation of the Global South:

   • Key emerging powers like India, Brazil, and Indonesia, as well as organizations like the African Union, are not full members, leading to a lack of diversity in G7 deliberations.

   Competition from Alternative Blocs:

   • The rise of blocs like BRICS Plus offers an alternative to the G7, with better representation of the Global South and growing influence, especially with nations like India and Brazil playing leading roles.

India’s Strategic Interests at the G7:

1. Balancing the West and the Global South:

   • India positions itself as a bridge between the industrialized West (G7) and the emerging Global South, advocating for inclusive global governance.

   Economic & Technological Cooperation:

   • India is a strong proponent of initiatives like the PGII, which aims to boost infrastructure investment in developing countries and counter China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

   Democratic Credentials & Strategic Weight:

   • India’s status as the world’s fourth-largest economy and its commitment to democratic norms make its voice crucial in G7 discussions on global governance.

   Platform for Bilateral Talks:

   • The G7 serves as a valuable platform for India to reset bilateral ties, like the meeting between Indian PM and Canadian PM to improve relations after recent tensions.

Conclusion:

The G7 remains a key player in shaping global economic, security, and environmental policies. However, its lack of legitimacy, representation, and economic dominance are hurdles to its future relevance. For India, the G7 offers a platform to advocate for fairer, more inclusive decision-making while bridging the gap between the Global South and industrialized nations.