Prime Minister Narendra Modi was warmly received by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney as he arrived at the G7 Summit venue in Kananaskis, Alberta—his first visit to Canada in ten years. The high-profile summit, taking place on June 16–17, marks Modi’s sixth consecutive participation in the G7, and is part of his ongoing three-nation tour, which began in Cyprus.
#WATCH | Canadian PM Mark Carney receives Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he arrives at the venue of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta
(Source: ANI/DD)#PMModiAtG7 pic.twitter.com/RziMfFvAcT
— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2025
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the summit will feature exchanges between leaders on key global challenges, including energy security, technological innovation, and emerging areas like artificial intelligence and quantum technologies.
Modi Holds Bilateral Meetings With Mexico, South Korea Leaders
On the sidelines of the G7 Summit, PM Modi held brief pull-aside discussions with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. These interactions came just weeks after India’s Operation Sindoor, a targeted strike on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, following the Pahalgam terror attacks on April 22.
The MEA stated, “At the Summit, the Prime Minister will exchange views with leaders of G-7 countries, other invited outreach countries and Heads of International Organisations on crucial global issues, including energy security, technology and innovation, particularly the AI-energy nexus and Quantum-related issues.”
India-Canada Ties See Signs of Reset After Diplomatic Chill
Modi’s arrival in Canada follows an invitation from Prime Minister Carney, an economist and political newcomer who assumed office in March after Justin Trudeau stepped down. The invitation is seen as an overture to mend diplomatic relations, which had deteriorated sharply over the killing of pro-Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India had earlier recalled its High Commissioner and five diplomats in retaliation to Ottawa’s attempt to implicate Indian officials in Nijjar’s killing. Canada had also seen the expulsion of its diplomats by New Delhi. Tensions escalated as India accused Trudeau’s administration of permitting pro-Khalistani activities on Canadian soil.
Following Trudeau’s exit, the MEA expressed hope for a “rebuilding of ties based on mutual trust and sensitivity”. In recent months, security officials from both nations resumed contact, and discussions on the appointment of new High Commissioners are reportedly underway.
Calling India and Canada “vibrant democracies”, the MEA noted last week that the scheduled meeting between the two prime ministers would be “an important opportunity to exchange views and explore pathways to reset bilateral ties.”
During Modi’s previous visit to Canada in 2015, both countries had elevated their engagement to a strategic partnership.
India and Canada recorded bilateral trade in goods worth USD 8.6 billion in 2024, with Indian exports standing at USD 4.2 billion and imports at USD 4.4 billion. The services trade was estimated at USD 14.3 billion, with India exporting USD 2.5 billion and importing services worth USD 11.8 billion.
Canada is home to one of the largest Indian diasporas globally, comprising nearly 4.5% of its population. This includes about 1.8 million Canadians of Indian origin—approximately 770,000 of whom are Sikh—and nearly one million Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), including students and skilled workers. In 2022, Indian students formed the largest cohort of international students in Canada, making up 41% of the total. However, recent immigration tightening has affected their opportunities and impacted Canadian universities’ financial health.
G7 Agenda Tackles Geopolitical Flashpoints
This year’s summit, hosted under Canada’s rotating G7 presidency, coincides with the 50th anniversary of the grouping. Leaders are set to deliberate on a range of pressing geopolitical developments, including the Russia-Ukraine conflict and rising tensions in West Asia following the Iran-Israel hostilities.
US President Donald Trump, who arrived in Kananaskis a day earlier, is expected to hold separate bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Carney, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo during the summit.
India, now the world’s fifth-largest economy, has been a regular invitee to the G7’s Outreach sessions. It has participated in eleven such sessions so far—including in France (2003, 2019), the UK (2005, 2021), Russia (2006), Germany (2007, 2022), Japan (2008, 2023), Italy (2009, 2024), and now Canada in 2025. The Outreach Segment of the 51st G7 Summit is expected to comprise a single session.
(With ANI, PTI Inputs)
