Hours after inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to this month’s G7 Summit in Alberta, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday highlighted India’s position as the fifth-largest economy as the reason for the invite. Canada’s move aims to improve ties with India after relations soured under former PM Justin Trudeau.
“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,” Carney said during a news conference on Parliament Hill, as reported by The Globe and Mail.
Carney said the most populous country, with the fifth-largest economy, must attend this year’s G7 Summit.
Canada Seeks to Reset Ties with India
India and Canada downgraded diplomatic ties in 2023. Trudeau had then accused Indian government agents of being “potentially” involved in the killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. India called the claims “absurd” and “motivated.”
On Friday, Carney refused to comment on India’s role in Nijjar’s death. “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,” he said.
Carney added that India and Canada had agreed to continue law enforcement dialogue. He did not confirm if that includes cooperation in the Nijjar case.
PM Modi Confirms G7 Attendance
PM Modi confirmed his attendance at the G7 Summit on Friday. In a post on X, he said he congratulated Carney on his election win and expressed hope for stronger ties. “India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests,” Modi wrote.
“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,” PM Modi said in a post on X.
G7 host countries often invite guest nations. So far, Canada has invited Ukraine and Australia.
India has received G7 invitations every year since 2019. Modi has attended each Summit since August 2019, except in 2020, when the US cancelled the meeting.
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