NEW DELHi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi used his address at the G7 Summit on Tuesday to call for the protection of global maritime routes and seafarers, days after three Indian crew members were killed in a US military strike on a merchant vessel in the Gulf of Oman.Speaking at the outreach session titled Forging New Partnerships and Rebuilding International Solidarity, PM Modi told leaders including US President Donald Trump that growing conflicts in West Asia and disruptions to shipping routes were having far-reaching consequences for the global economy and for ordinary people.“India firmly believes that lasting solutions to the tensions and conflicts unfolding in various parts of the world are possible only through dialogue, diplomacy, and international cooperation,” Prime Minister Modi said.Referring to the situation in West Asia, he added: “We welcome the progress made in peace efforts in West Asia. Our friendly nations in the region have suffered loss of life and property due to this conflict. Disruptions to maritime trade in the Strait of Hormuz have harmed the global economy. Many Indian civilians have lost their lives.”PM Modi then turned to the safety of maritime workers, an issue that has gained attention in India following the deaths of three Indian mariners in a US strike near Oman last week. “It is our responsibility to ensure the safety of 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,” he said.The remarks came a day before PM Modi’s bilateral talks with Trump.The Prime Minister also argued that trust had become the world’s most valuable strategic asset at a time when countries are increasingly interconnected through trade, technology, energy and data flows.“International partnerships and global solidarity can only be meaningful if we address shared challenges together,” he said, adding that cooperation must be based on mutual trust and equal partnerships.PM Modi also highlighted the aspirations of the Global South, saying developing nations wanted to be partners in global progress rather than merely recipients of assistance. “We must move beyond the donor-recipient mindset and work as equal partners,” he said.India attended the summit as a guest nation at the invitation of the G7 grouping, which comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union.
