Modi Warns: Global South Hit Hard by Conflicts; Slams Terror Backers, Calls for AI Governance

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi used his address at the G7 Outreach Session in Kananaskis to deliver a pointed message to world leaders: the growing instability in multiple regions is exacting a heavy toll on the Global South, and the international community must confront the threats of terrorism and emerging technologies with consistency and resolve.

Speaking at the session on energy security, Modi thanked Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for the invitation and congratulated the G7 on its 50th anniversary. 

Image Source: MEA/FM on X

Framing energy security as one of the defining challenges of the future, Modi outlined India’s approach built on the pillars of availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptability. Despite being the world’s fastest growing major economy, India has met its Paris climate goals ahead of schedule, he emphasized.

Modi showcased India’s global sustainability initiatives including the International Solar Alliance, Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, Global Biofuels Alliance, Mission LiFE, and One Sun-One World-One Grid, urging greater international cooperation to strengthen these efforts.

Turning sharply to global security, Modi condemned the continued double standards on terrorism. Referring to the recent Pahalgam terror attack, he declared it an attack not just on India but on humanity itself.

He pressed world leaders to take firm action against nations that sponsor terrorism, warning against rewarding such actors. Modi posed blunt questions for global institutions: will the world act only when terror reaches their doorsteps? Can perpetrators and victims of terrorism ever be equated? 

And how long will international bodies remain silent spectators?

On the evolving nexus between technology, artificial intelligence, and energy, Modi acknowledged AI’s potential while cautioning about its significant energy demands. 

He stressed the need for global governance frameworks to ensure AI development remains sustainable, secure, and beneficial to ordinary people. 

With India’s vast data resources, he said, responsible AI can thrive—provided resilient supply chains for critical minerals are secured.

Concluding, Modi emphasized that in a technology-driven era, human well-being must remain central to progress. “People and planet must be at the heart of every global strategy,” he said, and called for deeper international cooperation to secure a sustainable, equitable future.