Modi warns G7 war shocks are hitting the Global South in Evian
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has told G7 leaders that disruptions caused by the war in West Asia are likely to weigh on the Global South for a considerable period. Speaking at the outreach session in Evian-les-Bains in eastern France, he said the most vulnerable countries should not be left to bear the burden of these crises alone. He linked the conflict to pressure on fuel, fertiliser and food supply chains, and said international financial institutions should help developing countries absorb the shocks.
Sponsored
Modi said the war has affected supplies of LPG, LNG, diesel, petrol and fertilisers, with the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz contributing to higher fuel prices and wider economic strain. He said the impact was being felt not only in India but across developing countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America. The remarks were made during a session on reviving balanced, shared and sustainable economic growth for all.
The meeting was attended by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the African Development Bank. Modi said these institutions should develop support mechanisms for affected nations, arguing that vulnerable countries need practical help to maintain economic resilience. He also said the French G7 presidency had given importance to the issue.
The intervention matters because it places the effects of the West Asia conflict at the centre of a discussion about global growth and development. For many poorer countries, higher energy and fertiliser costs can quickly feed into food prices, public finances and import bills. That makes the issue relevant not only to diplomacy but also to inflation, debt pressure and food security.
Sponsored
Modi framed the argument as part of a wider case for what he called partnership rather than mere support for the developing world. He said the real question was not simply GDP or trade numbers, but growth for whom, with whom and in what direction. He also pointed to India's own development experience as an example of inclusion, scale and democratic empowerment.
What remains unclear is what concrete support, if any, the international financial institutions or G7 members may offer after the session. It is also not yet clear whether the discussion will lead to any new mechanism for countries facing supply-chain shocks from the conflict. The immediate focus now is on whether the summit's outreach agenda produces follow-up commitments on energy, food and fertiliser resilience.
Sponsored
