Mark Carney pointed to India’s G7 presence to drive home the point that a wider perspective is needed
The Group of Seven countries no longer run the world, member Canada has said.
Prime Minister Mark Carney said the presence of countries such as India at the gathering of the world’s most advanced economies and democracies highlights the G7’s acknowledgement of the need for a wider global perspective.
“It’s a recognition that the G7, if it ever did run the world, no longer runs the world or pretends to,” the Canadian leader said at an interaction at Trinity College Dublin, ahead of the G7 conclave in Evian, France.
The grouping comprises Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the US, in addition to the European Union, which participates in the meetings as a ‘non-enumerated’ member.
Carney pointed out that tackling major global challenges requires wider international cooperation and perspectives beyond the group’s traditional members.
The G7 summit is taking place shortly after Iran and the US struck a peace deal ending months-long hostilities that have paralyzed shipping in the Gulf of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical waterways. The deal is to be formally signed this coming Friday.
The summit, which is already underway, also includes as partner countries Brazil, Egypt, Kenya and the Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates – apart from India, which holds the BRICS presidency this year.
Carney said these countries provide a “broader perspective and a broader element of the solution” to discussions on key global challenges.
🌍🇮🇳 G7 No Longer Runs The World, India’s Presence Proves It: Canada PM Carney pic.twitter.com/5YkL26l78F
This underscores the key role of emerging and middle powers in addressing global issues, he said, adding the expanded gathering could formulate the contours of a new world order.
US President Donald Trump, who is attending the G7 meeting, is expected to hold talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi amid strained relations over trade tariffs and the killing of Indian sailors by US forces enforcing the Iran blockade.
Carney’s comments come on the heels of Modi and Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico backing comprehensive reforms of multilateral institutions, including the UN Security Council.
The structure of the UN was decided in the aftermath of World War II, but is increasingly seen as out of step with the modern world, where countries such as India have increased their economic and military clout. Russia and China have also been left out of the G7.
At the World Economic Summit in Davos in January, Carney urged “middle powers to work together in response to growing geopolitical tensions.”
