Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced today (June 6) that he will attend the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada later this month.
The invitation for Modi to attend the summit was confirmed by the office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who issued the invitation during a phone call with Modi.
Following this, Modi posted on social media platform X, saying, “I am delighted to receive Prime Minister Carney’s call, congratulating him on his election victory, and I appreciate his invitation to join the G7 summit. India and Canada are two vibrant democratic nations with a strong relationship, and we will collaborate based on mutual respect and common interests.”
This meeting marks the first face-to-face encounter between Modi and Carney since the latter took office, and is seen as an important step in thawing relations between the two countries.
The office of Prime Minister Carney later confirmed that during the call, they discussed the long-standing relationship between India and Canada, including people-to-people connections, business ties, and agreed to continue dialogue on law enforcement and security issues.
India is not a G7 member, so this invitation signifies a gradual warming of relations between India and Canada.
It should be noted that since September 2023, relations between the two countries had hit a low point. At that time, Canada accused Indian government officials of being involved in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, leading to a diplomatic storm. India vehemently denied the accusations.
Furthermore, Canadian intelligence had also listed India as one of the countries suspected of interfering in Canadian elections.
However, there are also Canadians who are unhappy about Modi’s invitation.
Danish Singh, Chairman of the World Sikh Organization (WSO), criticized the decision, saying: “This is not only a betrayal of the Canadian Sikh community but also a betrayal of the core values of the country. It is shocking that the Prime Minister invited Modi.”
From an international perspective, Modi’s appearance at the G7 summit is also seen as a significant symbol of India’s rise. The question of whether India will join forces with G7 countries to counter authoritarian regimes such as China and Russia has become a focal point of attention.
“News Direct” Production Team