First thaw in chill: PM Modi is called by Canada’s Carney and invited to the G7 Summit

PM Carney of Canada extends an invitation to PM Modi: Since 2019, India has been invited to all G7 summits.PM Modi is invited by PM Carney of Canada: IN In an attempt to heal bilateral relations following a year-and-a-half of animosity and conflict, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney extended an invitation to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the G7 Summit on June 15–17 on Friday.

“Happy to receive a call from Prime Minister Mark J. Carney of Canada,” Modi wrote in a post on X after receiving a call from Carney. thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this month and congratulated him on his recent election victory.

“India and Canada will collaborate with renewed vigor as dynamic democracies with strong people-to-people ties, driven by respect for one another and common objectives. He said, “Look forward to our meeting at the Summit.”

Speaking with @NarendraModi today, Carney discussed the long-standing relationship between Canada and India, which includes strong people-to-people contacts as well as important commercial ties. Crucially, we committed to ongoing law enforcement communication and security-related talks.

After the rift in relations, the invitation, which comes less than ten days before the Summit, is a significant step forward. Following a political uproar in 2023 caused by then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s accusation of “potential” complicity of Indian government agents in the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistan separatist resident in Canada, the two nations downgraded their diplomatic ties. India dismissed the accusations as “motivated” and “absurd.”

Modi has attended every Summit since August 2019, with the exception of 2020, when the host nation, the United States, canceled the G7 huddle.

This was the first invitation since Modi was appointed prime minister in 2014, and France hosted the G7 Summit in Biarritz in August 2019. Prior to it, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had participated in five G8 summits between 2004 and 2014. The G8 was renamed the G7 in 2014 following Russia’s removal and suspension due to its invasion of Crimea.

In 2020, US President Donald Trump referred to the G7 as a “very outdated group” and stated that he wanted to include South Korea, Australia, India, and Russia to the list of the world’s most developed economies. Trump has recommended that the Group of Seven reconvene in September or November 2020 and that they be referred to as “G10 or G11.” However, that did not occur because of the epidemic and the US elections.

After participating virtually at the 2021 Summit, Modi went on to visit the summits in Germany in 2022, Japan in 2023, and Italy in 2024.

Anita Anand, Canada’s new foreign minister, spoke with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar over the phone on May 25. With aspirations of a new beginning in relations, it was the first formal political-level meeting between Delhi and Ottawa following Carney’s election victory and appointment as prime minister.

Even as the RCMP investigation into the death of Canadian Hardeep Singh Nijjar went on, Anand stated that Canada was eager to reestablish its relationship with India as part of an attempt to diversify commerce away from the US.
India has been looking to Carney to manage relations with “much more maturity” since Trudeau’s departure and the loss of Jagmeet Singh, the leader of the left-leaning New Democratic Party and someone Delhi considers to be a supporter of pro-Khalistan separatists in Canada.

Canada’s recent diplomatic outreach toward India marks a significant shift in bilateral relations that had grown frosty over the past two years. The call from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi signals the first visible thaw in diplomatic tensions.

PM Carney’s invitation to PM Modi for the upcoming G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, is both a symbolic and strategic gesture. It underscores Canada’s willingness to mend ties and acknowledges India’s growing global influence.

The relationship between Canada and India has been under intense strain, particularly since the fallout over the death of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023. Carney’s gesture is the first concrete attempt by a Canadian leader to rebuild trust with New Delhi.

Prime Minister Modi, in his response, accepted the invitation with grace and optimism. He reiterated the importance of India-Canada cooperation and emphasized shared democratic values as the basis for renewed dialogue.

The invitation to the G7 Summit, scheduled for June 15–17, 2025, highlights the critical importance of India in global economic and geopolitical matters, especially in domains like clean energy, artificial intelligence, and critical mineral supply chains.

The move also has implications beyond just diplomacy—it sends a message to the international community that Canada is open to reconciliation and multilateralism.

For India, attending the G7 as a guest nation reflects its expanding footprint in the international order. Though not a formal member, India has been invited to participate in previous G7 Summits, reinforcing its status as a key stakeholder in global decision-making.

This year’s summit takes on special significance due to geopolitical shifts, the energy transition, and tensions between major powers. India’s voice will be crucial in shaping balanced, inclusive policies.

The call between the two leaders reportedly included discussions around economic cooperation, climate policy, counterterrorism, and innovation, all of which are expected to be major themes at the summit.

PM Carney acknowledged that despite past disputes, India’s perspective is essential for a successful G7 dialogue. He specifically mentioned India’s role in stabilizing global food supply chains and digital governance.

Observers note that Carney’s outreach may have been motivated by multiple factors, including Canada’s need to diversify its partnerships and reduce dependency on specific geopolitical blocs.

India, under PM Modi, has consistently advocated for multipolarity in international relations. This diplomatic engagement reinforces that philosophy.

While both countries have domestic constituencies with opposing views, especially on issues of diaspora politics, the leadership on both sides seems committed to focusing on future cooperation.

Sikh advocacy groups in Canada have already voiced their criticism of Modi’s invitation, labeling it as an abandonment of justice. However, Carney has insisted that dialogue is the path forward.

Indian diplomats have privately indicated that the thaw could lead to broader cooperation in education, defense, and trade if trust continues to be rebuilt.

The decision to include India at the summit is also seen as part of a wider G7 strategy to counterbalance China’s influence and engage with leading Global South economies.

This outreach also allows Canada to play a larger role in Indo-Pacific affairs, especially as G7 nations emphasize partnerships in the region.

Modi’s presence at the summit will provide a platform to highlight India’s development model, its digital infrastructure revolution, and climate commitments under Mission LiFE.

Experts suggest that this summit could result in bilateral side meetings between India and other G7 members, paving the way for new alliances and agreements.

The economic context cannot be ignored. India is currently the fastest-growing major economy in the world, and its market potential is unmatched among democracies.

Carney’s decision to personally initiate the call reflects a calculated pivot by Canada’s leadership to engage pragmatically rather than emotionally.

This overture, if sustained through subsequent diplomatic channels, could lead to a full normalization of ties by the end of the year.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs welcomed the move, stating that open dialogue was the only way to ensure mutual respect and cooperation between democracies.

In preparation for the summit, Indian officials are expected to participate in working groups that deal with digital public infrastructure, sustainable finance, and global south partnerships.

PM Modi is also likely to use the opportunity to advocate for reforms in multilateral institutions like the IMF and World Bank, a long-standing Indian priority.

India’s agenda at G7 will include food security, renewable energy collaboration, and digital skilling initiatives for developing nations.

The optics of this invitation also matter deeply. A handshake at the G7 between Carney and Modi would symbolize a reset in Indo-Canadian diplomacy.

International media outlets have already begun to interpret the development as a major geopolitical story, with possible implications for the 2025 Canadian elections and Modi’s global statesman image.

Indian political analysts have termed this invitation a “diplomatic calibration,” emphasizing its potential to ease prolonged bilateral hostility without compromising core national interests.

At the G7 Summit, India’s participation will likely spotlight the voice of the Global South, as PM Modi has consistently raised concerns about unequal global governance frameworks.

India’s digital transformation, particularly platforms like Aadhaar and UPI, are expected to gain global attention as models for inclusive development at the summit.

Diplomatic sources suggest that backchannel communications between Ottawa and New Delhi had already been active in recent months, laying the groundwork for this landmark phone call.

This development also hints at the maturity of India’s foreign policy, which seeks cooperation even with countries where sharp disagreements have occurred.

Indian civil society is watching the engagement closely, with many hoping it can also open avenues for academic exchanges, student visas, and joint research partnerships between Indian and Canadian institutions.

Canada, in inviting India, also strengthens its stance within the G7 by demonstrating that it can be a bridge-builder between the West and rising powers in the East.

The decision may have ripple effects on trade agreements that were put on pause between the two countries, especially the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Given Canada’s vast Indian diaspora, many of whom are politically active, this diplomatic thaw may also influence domestic narratives within Canadian constituencies.

The Indian government has remained cautious but firm in its messaging, signaling interest in restoring practical cooperation while insisting on mutual respect for sovereignty and non-interference.

This new chapter could encourage a cultural and economic renaissance in Indo-Canadian relations, with festivals, exhibitions, and tourism exchanges seeing revival post-COVID and post-diplomatic freeze.

PM Modi’s anticipated speech at the G7 could touch upon the themes of human-centric globalization and tech-driven growth, ideas he has championed on world stages previously.

Environmental collaboration may also be a talking point, with India and Canada both emphasizing clean energy, particularly hydrogen development and battery storage innovations.

Security cooperation could quietly resume, especially in areas like cyber defense, counter-narcotics, and maritime security.

With Canada chairing the G7 this year, its inclusion of India despite recent tensions shows maturity and geopolitical realism, signaling an era of functional diplomacy over rhetorical division.

There are murmurs that Modi could also hold side meetings with leaders from France, the U.S., and Japan to discuss regional security and trade diversification.

Critics of the diplomatic rapprochement warn against papering over unresolved issues. But most agree that sustained silence would have been more harmful in the long term.

Modi’s team is reportedly preparing a multi-pronged strategy for the G7—balancing assertive diplomacy with collaborative tones on issues like climate finance and technology transfer.

Involving India more deeply in G7 processes could help reform the bloc’s reputation, making it more inclusive and less Eurocentric in character.

This shift also brings India one step closer to long-term goals like becoming a permanent member of the UN Security Council or joining OECD frameworks.

India’s rising clout is reflected in such invitations, which reinforce its indispensability in global decision-making bodies.

The visit to Canada may also include bilateral engagements outside the summit, such as a possible Indian cultural showcase or diaspora outreach event hosted by the Indian High Commission.

Canadian universities and business councils have lauded the move, seeing it as a catalyst to revive educational ties and investments disrupted by recent tensions.

Mark Carney, known for his technocratic style and financial acumen, seems to have chosen engagement over exclusion, aware that geopolitics cannot ignore economic interdependence.

The outreach also appears timed with India’s increasing influence in regional groupings like BRICS, SCO, and I2U2, making it hard for G7 members to leave India out of the equation.

There’s anticipation that India might push for a larger role in G7 innovation labs and startup ecosystems, drawing parallels with its domestic Startup India mission.

The momentum generated by this invitation could culminate in a bilateral leaders’ summit later this year, if trust continues to be restored.

India’s foreign policy doctrine—characterized by strategic autonomy—is once again validated as it engages with both Western and non-Western power centers without compromising its interests.

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