Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to seek India’s assistance to forge a stronger coalition to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine at his meeting with Narendra Modi on March 20, adding pressure on New Delhi to choose between major world democracies and a key supplier of energy and weapons, Report informs referring to Bloomberg.
“As leaders of the G-7 and G-20, I want us to communicate closely in an effort to strengthen cooperation,” Kishida said March 10 when announcing the trip. He is keen to understand India’s position, especially from the viewpoint of developing countries, said a senior Japanese official asking not to be identified as the discussions are private.
India holds the presidency of the Group of 20 nations, whose members Russia and China have opposed efforts by the wider group to condemn the invasion. The leaders of the Group of Seven advanced economies, have renewed their support for Ukraine.
“Our meeting is important because as India heads the G-20, Japan is leading the G-7 group,” Modi said after his meeting with Kishida. “One of India’s aim at the G-20 is to bolster the voice of Global South. We believe in taking everyone along.”
Kishida invited Modi to the G-7 summit in Hiroshima in May and said the Indian prime minister accepted the invitation “on the spot.”
