Canadian PM Mark Carney Invites PM Modi to G7 Summit in Kananaskis; Modi Accepts

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated on Friday that inviting India, the fifth-largest economy, to the upcoming G7 Summit was a logical decision. He was responding to a question about extending an invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Carney noted that the upcoming summit will address key global concerns, including security and energy.

He emphasised the necessity of India’s participation in these discussions, given its growing global influence and role in supply chains.

“There are certain countries that should be at the table for those discussions in my capacity as G7 chair consultation,” Carney said.

“India is the fifth largest economy in the world, effectively the most populous in the world central to a number of supply chains, so it makes sense.

And in addition, bilaterally, we have now agreed importantly to continued law enforcement dialogue so there’s been some progress… I extended the invitation to Prime Minister Modi in that context and he has accepted,” he added.

PM Modi Accepts G7 Summit Invitation

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday confirmed he would participate in the G7 Summit in Canada. The announcement followed a phone conversation with Carney.

“Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister Mark J Carney of Canada. 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. Look forward to our meeting at the Summit,” Modi posted on X.

Diplomatic Strain Between India and Canada

The invitation comes after a tense phase in India-Canada relations. Ties were strained following Canadian allegations in 2023 that Indian “agents” were involved in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and pro-Khalistan activist, outside a Sikh temple in Vancouver.

India dismissed the accusations as baseless, and both nations expelled senior diplomats in response.

Carney did not comment directly on the case, stating, “There is a legal process that is literally under way and quite advanced in Canada, and it’s never appropriate to make comments with respect to those legal processes.”

However, he did mention that both countries had agreed to maintain dialogue on law enforcement matters, though it remains unclear if this includes cooperation on the Nijjar investigation.

G7 Invitations Extended to Other Nations

Canada, as the host of this year’s G7 Summit, has invited several non-member countries:

1. South Africa confirmed that President Cyril Ramaphosa was invited.

2. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on May 4 that he had received and accepted an invitation.

3. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was also invited and confirmed his participation.

4. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum acknowledged the invitation but had yet to confirm her attendance.

Canada’s invitation to Modi is seen as a move to rebuild relations, which had deteriorated during the tenure of former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Carney’s Statement on India’s Global Role

During a news conference on Parliament Hill, as reported by The Globe and Mail, Carney said: “As chair of the G7, it is important to invite the most important countries to attend to talk about important issues such as energy, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and India is really at the very centre of global supply chains.”

He reiterated that India, as the world’s most populous country and fifth-largest economy, should have a seat at the G7 table.

Modi’s Consistent Presence at G7 Summits

India has been consistently invited to the G7 Summit since 2019. Except for 2020, when the summit was cancelled by the then-host, the United States, Modi has attended every G7 gathering since August 2019. This continued presence underscores India’s growing global relevance.

Carney’s decision to include India reflects an acknowledgment of its strategic importance in addressing global challenges.

Despite past tensions, both nations appear committed to engaging in constructive dialogue and strengthening bilateral ties through participation in multilateral forums.