New Delhi : PM Narendra Modi on Tuesday addressed the deaths of Indian seafarers in a US military strike during an address to G7 leaders. “We welcome the progress made in peace efforts in West Asia. This conflict has caused loss of life and property in our friendly countries in the region” PM Modi. He raised the issue days after three Indian nationals died when US forces attacked the Palau-flagged oil tanker Settebello in the Gulf of Oman.
Highlighting the wider impact of the West Asia conflict, he drew attention to disruptions in maritime trade and the risks faced by seafarers operating in key shipping corridors. Ensuring the safety of seafarers, who connect nations through global maritime trade, is our collective responsibility. We must ensure that sea routes remain secure and that seafarers can carry out their duties without fear, he said.
He said countries of the Global South were no longer looking for assistance but for meaningful partnerships that would allow them to play a larger role in shaping global development. Calling for a departure from traditional donor-recipient models, he said international cooperation must be built on equality, dignity and shared responsibility.
International partnerships and global solidarity can become meaningful only when we collectively address shared challenges. India firmly believes that the lasting resolution of tensions and conflicts in different parts of the world can only be achieved through dialogue, diplomacy, and international cooperation, he added. Today, the world does not suffer from a shortage of resources; it suffers from a shortage of trust. And the future of our partnerships depends on building this trust.
Earlier in the day, the two leaders briefly interacted after the traditional G7 group photo. They exchanged a handshake and a few words before joining other leaders at the summit venue. India is attending the summit at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron. The appearance marks India’s 13th participation as a partner country and PM Modi’s seventh consecutive attendance at the G7 gathering.
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