Modi’s visit includes meetings in France and Slovakia before he attends the G7 summit in Evian, France, marking India’s 13th participation as a partner country at the forum. The G7 members include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The Indian government said it would call for safe and unrestricted maritime passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route, while raising broader concerns linked to developments in West Asia.“We want and we have urged that there be unimpeded and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz in keeping with international law,” Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters.

The comments came after US attacks on vessels near Hormuz that killed three Indian sailors. The US Central Command said the strike was carried out because the tanker involved was “attempting to transport oil from Iran.”India’s foreign ministry said protecting the welfare and security of its seafaring community remained a priority.

More than 320,000 Indians work as mariners globally, making them one of the largest national groups in the profession, while about 20,000 are currently serving on commercial vessels in the Hormuz region, according to the Forward Seamen’s Union of India.The Indian Embassy in Oman said three ships staffed by Indian personnel in the Gulf had been attacked by American forces during the week.

Modi is also expected to meet US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the summit, with the issue likely to feature in discussions between the two leaders.Analysts said the incidents had increased India’s focus on securing maritime movement across the wider Gulf corridor, with New Delhi seeking clarity over the protection of civilian shipping.

The summit will also provide India an opportunity to engage with Gulf countries invited by France, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Egypt.The G7 meeting begins on Monday in France, bringing together leaders of major industrial economies to discuss global economic and security issues.

The India-Oman Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which entered into force on Monday, eliminates tariffs on most Indian exports to Oman, covering about 99% of the value of India’s shipments to the Gulf state. The agreement comes at a time when India is seeking to safeguard critical supply chains amid ongoing turmoil in the Middle East following U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran on Feb. 28.

Indian officials and trade experts say the pact assumes added significance as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz threatens one of the world’s most important energy and shipping routes. Despite efforts to diversify sourcing and transport networks, India remains dependent on the corridor for roughly 30% of its crude oil imports and about 90% of its liquefied petroleum gas imports.

In a statement, India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry said Oman’s ports of Sohar, Duqm and Salalah would provide Indian exporters with enhanced access to Gulf and East African markets, helping establish what it described as a new trade gateway for Indian businesses.

Anil Wadhwa, a former Indian ambassador to Oman and a distinguished fellow at the Vivekananda International Foundation, said the agreement had acquired immediate strategic relevance because of the regional crisis.

“The coming into force of the CEPA between India and Oman has immediately gained significance due to the crisis in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz,” Wadhwa said, adding that the pact offered India alternative logistics channels, transshipment facilities and stronger commercial linkages at a time of growing uncertainty in global supply chains.

He said the agreement would not fully shield India from the broader economic consequences of a prolonged regional conflict but could help mitigate disruptions by preserving access to key trade corridors.

The CEPA is India’s second bilateral trade agreement with a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council after a similar pact with the United Arab Emirates signed in 2022. For Oman, the deal is its second bilateral free trade agreement after its accord with the United States in 2006.

Oman is India’s second-largest trading partner in the Gulf region, with bilateral trade exceeding $11 billion in the 2025-26 fiscal year.

Industry groups view the agreement as a mechanism to strengthen India’s manufacturing exports while reducing logistical dependence on routes affected by the Hormuz crisis.

Manish Mohan, senior director at the Confederation of Indian Industry, said the prolonged disruption of shipping through the strait had heightened concerns over fuel imports, fertilizer supplies and freight costs.

India, the world’s second-largest fertilizer consumer after China, uses more than 60 million tonnes of fertilizer annually. The conflict involving Iran has affected fertilizer supply chains, with Gulf producers accounting for about one-third of India’s imports of urea and phosphate-based fertilizers.

Mohan said Oman’s location outside the Strait of Hormuz increased its value as a commercial hub and alternative entry point for Indian imports if regional instability persists.

The agreement is also expected to support investment flows and deepen economic ties between the two countries, while providing Indian exporters with improved access to markets across the Gulf and eastern Africa through Omani ports and logistics infrastructure.

In a video statement released by his office, Netanyahu said Israeli forces had “eliminated” the commander of Hezbollah’s Radwan force in the Lebanese capital the previous night, referring to the armed group’s elite military unit.“Anyone who threatens the State of Israel will die because of his actions,” Netanyahu said, reiterating Israel’s position that it would continue targeting militant leaders it considers security threats.

The strike in central Beirut marked another escalation despite an existing ceasefire arrangement between Israel and Lebanon, and came ahead of a new round of U.S.-mediated talks scheduled in Washington next week.Hezbollah has not immediately issued detailed public comment on Netanyahu’s statement.

Israel has continued airstrikes in Lebanon in recent weeks, saying it is targeting Hezbollah infrastructure and commanders linked to attacks against Israeli territory.The Radwan force is regarded as one of Hezbollah’s most prominent combat units and has been central to the group’s operations along the Israel-Lebanon frontier.

According to an official statement, the exchange focused on developments in the region amid heightened geopolitical tensions, though no further details were provided on specific issues or outcomes of the discussion.

The call comes as countries across the region intensify diplomatic engagement in response to evolving security dynamics linked to the ongoing crisis involving Iran and its broader regional implications.