Diplomatic thaw expected as India-Canada ties show signs of recovery
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has officially invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the upcoming G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, later this month, marking a positive turn in the recently strained relations between the two nations.
PM Modi shared the update on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), saying:
“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.”
A Shift from Tense Relations
Bilateral ties between India and Canada had hit a low point under former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, especially after his 2023 allegations linking Indian agents to the killing of Canadian national and Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India had strongly rejected the accusations as “absurd” and “politically motivated,” leading to a downgrade in diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
However, following Carney’s election as Prime Minister earlier this year, PM Modi had expressed optimism about renewing ties and enhancing cooperation. In April, Modi had congratulated Carney on his electoral victory and highlighted the potential for greater collaboration.
India’s Role in G7
While India is not a formal member of the Group of Seven (G7) — which includes the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and Japan — it has frequently been invited to the outreach sessions as a key global partner.
Last year, PM Modi attended the summit in Italy, and in 2023, he participated in the gathering held in Hiroshima, Japan. The upcoming summit in Kananaskis will be Modi’s sixth G7 summit appearance as India continues to strengthen its voice on global platforms.
