India (Commonwealth Union)_ Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accepted an invitation from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to attend the upcoming G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, scheduled from June 15 to 17. The late-stage invitation, extended just days before the summit, comes amid lingering diplomatic tensions between India and Canada following a series of high-profile diplomatic confrontations over the past year. Mark Carney, who assumed office as Canadian Prime Minister last month, extended the formal invite on Friday, breaking weeks of silence and speculation regarding India’s participation. “There are certain countries that should be at the table for those discussions… India is the fifth-largest economy in the world,” Carney stated, underlining India’s critical role in global economic frameworks and supply chains.
Also read: Sri Lanka Signs Breakthrough MoU with NUS—Is a Global Education Revolution Underway?
On Friday evening, Prime Minister Modi took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to confirm his participation and acknowledge the outreach from Carney. “Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister @MarkJCarney of Canada,” Modi posted. “Congratulated him on his recent election victory and thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this month. As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests.”
Also read: Inside the Billionaire Boom Turning Singapore into the World’s Giving Capital
The invitation signifies a significant shift in India-Canada ties, which have been severely strained since last year. Relations deteriorated sharply after Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau, publicly alleged Indian government involvement in the June 2023 killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. In response, India withdrew its High Commissioner from Ottawa, and Canada reciprocated shortly thereafter. Both countries continue to function without full diplomatic representation. The decision to delay the G7 invite was widely interpreted in New Delhi as a diplomatic slight, particularly in light of Canada’s perceived tolerance of pro-Khalistan groups. Indian officials had earlier indicated that Modi might skip the summit entirely. However, Carney’s outreach appears to signal a shift in tone and intent, as both sides cautiously explore pathways to normalization.
Also read: RCB’s Historic Win Turns Deadly — Stampede Kills 11 Fans Outside Stadium!
Carney has avoided commenting on the sensitive Nijjar case, stating only that legal proceedings are ongoing. Meanwhile, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand recently remarked that restoring bilateral ties with India would be a slow, deliberate process undertaken “one step at a time.” India has been invited to participate in G7 and its predecessor, the G8, as a guest country since 2005. Its presence at these summits reflects its growing global influence, particularly as a representative voice of the Global South. Since 2019, India has consistently participated in G7 outreach sessions hosted by France, the UK, Germany, and Japan.
The 2024 G7 Summit will bring together the leaders of Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan, along with the European Union. Discussions are expected to center around pressing global challenges, including the Russia-Ukraine war, mounting tensions in West Asia, energy security, digital transformation, and critical mineral supply chains. Additionally, institutions such as the United Nations, IMF, and World Bank will also be in attendance. In Alberta, Modi is also expected to meet US President Donald Trump, marking their first encounter since Trump claimed to have used trade leverage to help de-escalate tensions between India and Pakistan in May. Trump reiterated the claim for the eleventh time last week during a joint press conference with the visiting German Chancellor.
India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, welcomed the invitation and hinted at a possible thaw in relations. “Our hope is that we can rebuild our ties based on mutual trust and sensitivity,” he stated during a press briefing in New Delhi. With Modi’s confirmed attendance, the summit may offer a crucial diplomatic opportunity for India and Canada to recalibrate their bilateral relationship. Analysts see the gesture from Ottawa as a calculated effort by Carney to reset the tone, leveraging the multilateral platform of the G7 to re-engage with India while signaling to allies that Canada remains committed to constructive global diplomacy.
