Port Moresby (Papua New Guinea):Papua New Guinea Prime Minster James Marape on Monday highlighted the problems faced by the pacific islands nations due to the Russian-Ukraine War. Marape told the Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Pacific Islands nations consider Modi as the leader of the Global South and will rally behind the India’s leadership at Global forums.

While addressing the third-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC), Marape said, “We are victims of global power play… You (PM Modi) are the leader of Global South. We will rally behind your (India) leadership at global forums.”

He further said that Pacific islands are facing burnt of the war. High fuel’s cost and power scarcity increases the struggle of these countries.

The issue of Ukraine war with Russia or Russia war with Ukraine rather, we import the inflation to our own small economies. These nations sitting before you, Prime Minister (PM Modi), have high costs of fuel and power tariffs in their own countries and we suffer as a result of big nations at play in terms of geopolitics and the power struggles out there,” said Marape.

He urged PM Modi to guide them in this trouble and to be an active voice for the small islnads nations at global forum such as G20, G7, adding, “you are the voice that can offer our issues at the highest as advanced economies discuss matters relating to economy, commerce, trade and geoplantic.

PM Modi said that India considers it its responsibility to convey the concerns, expectations and aspirations of the Global South to the world through the G20. This was my effort in the last two days at the G7 summit as well. India has put forward ambitious targets on the issue of climate change. I am glad that we are working on these fast.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India has been helping all partner countries according to its capabilities. As I have said before, for me you are a big ocean country, not a small island state. Your ocean connects India with you. He said that along with the UN Secretary-General, I launched Mission Life, which means Lifestyle for Environment. India has taken initiatives like International Solar Alliance and CDRI. I understand that most of the countries are associated with the Solar Alliance.

Please tell that PM Modi is on a three-nation tour. After Japan, PM Modi reached Papua New Guinea on Sunday evening where Prime Minister James Marape gave him a grand welcome. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is participating in the 14 Pacific Island Countries (PICs) summit co-chairing the 3rd India-Pacific Islands Cooperation (FIPIC) summit with Prime Minister James Marape of Papua New Guinea.