ASIA

Modi may meet Biden, Sunak, Macron, other foreign leaders soon.

Anjali

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to meet United States President Joe Biden shortly after beginning his third term leading the government of India. Following his swearing-in for the third time, Modi may travel to Apulia, Italy to participate in outreach sessions with 17 leaders during the 50th summit from June 13 to 15.

New Delhi is making arrangements for Modi's visit to Italy, taking into account the formation of the new government and the initial session of the new Lok Sabha before finalizing his travel plans. If Modi attends the G7 summit in Italy, he could have individual meetings with President Biden, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, President Emmanuel Macron of France, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom on the sidelines of the event.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada is also slated to attend the G7 summit, however, it remains uncertain if Modi and Trudeau will have a bilateral meeting given the strained relations between New Delhi and Ottawa regarding activities of Khalistani Sikh separatists in Canada. Additionally, Modi may journey to Astana, Kazakhstan for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit taking place from July 3 to 4.

China has yet to confirm the attendance of President Xi Jinping at the summit or if Premier Li Keqiang will represent the country. Potential participation of both Modi and Xi at the summit could pave the way for a bilateral meeting, enhancing negotiations to resolve the ongoing standoff between the Indian Army and the Chinese People's Liberation Army along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

Although Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan is expected to be present at the SCO summit in Astana, the likelihood of a bilateral meeting between Modi and Shehbaz Sharif seems low.