Why Canada invited PM Modi to G7?

Canada invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the 2025 G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, as part of a strategic effort to reset and strengthen bilateral relations with India. This invitation marks a significant diplomatic shift following a period of heightened tensions between the two nations after former Canadian PM Justin Trudeau (who resigned mid term and whom Trump called Governor of Canada) alleged that some Indian agent was involved in killing of militant Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India denied these allegations, leading to reciprocal expulsions of diplomats and a freeze in high-level engagements. Also its a fact that Canada also accepts that Militant Nijjar had entered Canada on false documentation and got citizenship through frivolous means, after being involved in criminal activites in India.

Nevertheless, the election of Mark Carney in April 2025 and his subsequent invitation to PM Modi signify a desire to move beyond these tensions and rebuild the relationship. Both leaders have expressed a commitment to working together with renewed vigor, guided by mutual respect and shared interests.

Internationally, India's participation in the G7 summit is seen as a recognition of its growing influence and a step toward greater inclusion in global governance discussions .

External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a weekly news briefing that “We believe that the forthcoming meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the G7 Summit will offer an important opportunity to exchange views on bilateral and global issues, and to explore pathways to reset the relationship based on mutual respect, shared interests and sensitivity to each other’s concerns”.

Strategic and Economic Considerations

The Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasized India's pivotal role in the global economy, noting that India is the world's fifth-largest economy, the most populous country, and central to critical global supply chains. He stated that India's participation was essential for meaningful discussions on topics such as energy security, artificial intelligence, and infrastructure development in emerging markets.

Additionally, Carney highlighted the importance of law enforcement cooperation between the two countries, acknowledging progress in this area as a factor in extending the invitation.

Domestic and International Reactions

The invitation has elicited mixed reactions. While some Canadian business leaders and international partners have welcomed the opportunity to engage with India, members of Canada's separatist Khalistani community have expressed outrage. They argue that inviting PM Modi without addressing the concerns over the Nijjar case undermines human rights principles and Canadian sovereignty.

But that fact is that Khalistani supporters in Canada had majoritarily entered Canada through illegal means, still Canada had given them space in their country and now they have become a political force that had included lot of extremists getting elected to Canadian Parliament. Majority of Canadians also acknowledge that Khalistani's are pain to them as they are involved in multiple criminal activites in Canada including the arranging of illegal trespass of criminals in Canada.

External Affairs Minister of India, Dr. S Jaishankar also had multiple times emphasised that several people with gangland links had illegally entered Canada and Indian government had told the Canadian authorities multiple times about it but the Canadian Government is non serious about it, then the criminal activities (including killing of militant Nijjar) are bound to happen due to their internal conflicts as they are all criminals.

"We warmly welcome you to and hope that with your arrival, the relations between India and Canada will grow stronger and more prosperous,"said Harjit Singh Sandhu, Vice Chairman of the India Canada Organisation (ICO), Montreal.

Canada's invitation to PM Modi underscores a pragmatic approach to diplomacy, balancing economic interests, global security concerns, and domestic sensitivities. While challenges remain, the summit presents an opportunity for both nations to engage constructively and work towards a more stable and cooperative future.

Short breif on G7

In 1975, the United States, France, Italy, Japan, the UK, and West Germany established the Group of Six to create a platform for noncommunist nations to discuss urgent economic issues, including inflation and a recession triggered by the oil embargo imposed by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). The following year, Canada became a member, and the dynamics of Cold War politics inevitably influenced the group's discussions.

Since 1981, the European Union (EU) has been an active participant in the G7 as a "nonenumerated" member. The EU is represented by the presidents of the European Council, which consists of the leaders of EU member states, and the European Commission, which serves as the EU's executive body. Although there are no formal criteria for membership, all members are affluent democracies.

In 1998, Russia officially became a member of the group, thus forming the G8. U.S. President Bill Clinton believed that by admitting Russia, the country would gain international prestige and motivate its first post-Soviet leader, Boris Yeltsin, to align more closely with Western ideals. Clinton also thought that this membership would serve to appease Russia as the NATO security alliance began to accept former Soviet satellites in Eastern Europe.

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