Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has extended an invitation to his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to attend the upcoming G7 Summit, as both countries move to repair diplomatic ties that have been tense for nearly two years.
The invitation was made during a phone call on Friday, according to a readout from the Canadian Prime Minister’s Office, which also confirmed that the two leaders agreed to remain in contact and look forward to meeting at the summit later this month.
Though India is not a member of the Group of Seven (G7), it has been invited as a guest to the annual gathering, which will take place from June 15 to 17 in Kananaskis, Alberta.
“Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister Carney … thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit,” Modi wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter). He added that India and Canada would work together ‘with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests.’
A Diplomatic Reset After a Period of Tension
Bilateral relations between the two countries sharply deteriorated after Canada accused India of involvement in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia. Canada also alleged that India interfered in two recent Canadian elections.
In October 2024, Ottawa expelled several top Indian diplomats and consular officials after linking them to the killing. New Delhi strongly denied the allegations and responded by expelling the same number of Canadian diplomats.
Despite the diplomatic standoff, both countries recognize the importance of their trade and strategic relationship. India is Canada’s 10th largest trading partner, while Canada is the leading exporter of pulses—including lentils—to India.
Trade and Security Back on the Agenda
Prime Minister Carney, who has expressed interest in diversifying Canada’s trade partnerships beyond the United States, told reporters in Ottawa that it was logical to include India in the G7 dialogue.
“India has the fifth-largest economy in the world and is central to many global supply chains,” he said.
He also noted progress on security cooperation, saying,
“Bilaterally, we have now agreed to continue law enforcement dialogue—recognizing the importance of accountability. I extended the invitation to Prime Minister Modi in that context.”
The call and the G7 invitation come amid new developments in the case, with four Indian nationals recently charged in connection with the murder of the Sikh separatist leader.
