PM Modi Touches Down in Canada for G7 Summit Amid Diplomatic Reset
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Calgary on Monday evening, marking his first visit to Canada in over a decade as he prepares to participate in the G7 Summit held in Kananaskis on June 16-17. This visit is part of Modi's ongoing three-nation tour and follows an invitation extended by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Key Discussions Await at Kananaskis
The upcoming summit will be Modi's sixth consecutive G7 participation, where global leaders will deliberate on several critical issues. Among the top agenda items are energy security, cutting-edge technology, innovation, and particularly the intersection of artificial intelligence with energy as well as quantum technologies.
Bilateral Talks Amid Geopolitical Tensions
Beyond the group discussions, Modi is slated to hold a series of bilateral meetings. These come shortly after India’s recent Operation Sindoor, aimed at striking terror infrastructure across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation for the April 22 Pahalgam attacks. The summit's timing underscores the delicate geopolitical backdrop enveloping the region.
Resetting Frayed India-Canada Relations
The summit carries special significance for India and Canada, whose diplomatic ties took a hit following the killing of pro-Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar last year. The incident swiftly led to a diplomatic standoff where both nations recalled and expelled several diplomats. India had expressed strong discontent over what it perceived as Canadian tolerance for pro-Khalistani activities on its soil.
Mark Carney, a newcomer to Canadian politics and now Prime Minister since March 2025, has signaled his government's intention to rebuild bridges with New Delhi. India has reciprocated this sentiment, emphasizing the desire for renewed trust and sensitivity.
Over recent months, officials from both countries have resumed security dialogues and are exploring appointments of new high commissioners to smoothen communication channels.
Historic Ties and Economic Engagement
India's last prime ministerial visit to Canada was in 2015, during which relations were elevated to a strategic partnership. Two-way trade remains robust, with goods trade reaching USD 8.6 billion in 2024—India’s exports accounting for USD 4.2 billion and imports USD 4.4 billion. Moreover, trade in services hit USD 14.3 billion, as Indian exports stood at USD 2.5 billion and imports at USD 11.8 billion.
G7 Summit in Context
The summit unfolds amid mounting global challenges, including escalating conflicts in the Middle East and ongoing tensions triggered by recent tariff policies. US President Donald Trump, who arrived in Kananaskis ahead of the summit, is expected to engage in several bilateral meetings with key leaders, including Canada’s Carney, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo.
Canada, currently holding the rotating presidency of the G7, marks the 50th anniversary of this influential forum. The G7, comprising France, the US, the UK, Germany, Japan, Italy, and Canada, alongside the European Union, serves as a platform to deliberate pressing economic and geopolitical matters.
India’s Growing Engagement with the G7
As the world's fifth-largest economy, India has been a regular invitee to the G7 Outreach sessions over the past two decades, signaling its rising global prominence. It has participated in eleven outreach sessions spanning from 2003 in France to 2024 in Italy.
This year’s outreach segment will focus on several urgent global concerns, including the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and tensions in West Asia, providing a critical forum for dialogue and cooperation.
