GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 6th June: In a key development hinting at a thaw in India-Canada relations, newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the upcoming G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, scheduled from June 15 to 17.
Responding positively, PM Modi indicated that he would attend the summit and expressed optimism about re-energising bilateral cooperation. “Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister @MarkJCarney of Canada. Congratulated him on his recent election victory and thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit… India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests,” PM Modi posted on X.
The invitation and Modi’s acceptance mark a major shift in India-Canada ties, which had hit rock bottom under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Relations between the two countries nosedived in 2023 after Trudeau accused Indian agents of involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar — allegations India dismissed as baseless. The situation deteriorated further when India’s High Commissioner was labelled a “person of interest” in the same case, prompting New Delhi to withdraw diplomats and expel six Canadian officials.
While speculation had been rife over whether PM Modi would be invited or would attend the G7 summit at all, Carney’s outreach is now being viewed as a diplomatic reset and a setback to Khalistani factions in Canada, who had reportedly lobbied to keep India out of the summit.
Despite being a member of Trudeau’s Liberal Party, Carney has taken a markedly conciliatory tone since taking office in April, calling the India-Canada partnership “incredibly important” and underlining the need to address differences through “mutual respect.”
Diplomatic observers see the invitation as a strong signal of Canada’s intent to rebuild trust and strengthen strategic ties with India, especially in the context of shared democratic values and growing economic complementarities.
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