G20 Summit: Narendra Modi voices concern over situation in Gulf and Korean Peninsula

Hamburg: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said the geopolitical situation in the Gulf, West Asia and in the Korean Peninsula is a matter of concern as he asked BRICS nations to be a voice for stability, reform, progress and governance at the world stage. During an informal gathering of BRICS leaders in Hamburg hosted by the Chinese president on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, Modi said the ups and downs in the global politics and worsening security situation are affecting everyone. [caption id=“attachment_3787323” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other leaders at the informal meeting of the BRICS countries, on the sidelines of the 12th G-20 Summit in Hamburg, Germany on Friday. PTI[/caption] “BRICS has to be a voice of stability, reform, progress and governance at the world stage,” he told the presidents from BRICS nations - Michel Temer (Brazil), Vladimir Putin (Russia), Xi Jinping (China) and Jacob Zuma (South Africa). Modi said that the spread of terrorism is a threat for societies in Asia and Europe as he expressed concern over its increasing influence in the war-torn Afghanistan. The West Asian region has been marred by conflict between Israel and Palestine and battle against the Islamic State terror group, civil wars in Syria, Libya and Yemen. Millions of people have fled their homes in Iraq and Syria due to conflict. In the Gulf, a group of Arab states including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain has severed air, sea and ground links with Qatar, triggering a diplomatic crisis in the region where millions of Indians are working. Saudi and its allies accuse Qatar of supporting terror groups and maintaining close relations with Iran. The crisis has raised concerns of growing instability in the region. Narendra Modi also voiced concern over tensions in the Korean Peninsula, saying it is a matter of concern. Modi’s remarks came in the backdrop of the US warning to North Korea that it would use military force in response to Pyongyang’s “reckless” launch of a ballistic missiles. The US also blasted China and Russia for “holding the hands” of the reclusive nation’s “vicious dictator” Kim Jong Un.