India confirmed on Thursday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to an invitation from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to attend next week's G7 Summit in Kananaskis. The development marks a possible thaw as the two countries seek to reset their bilateral relationship.
"Last week, our Prime Minister got a call from Prime Minister Carney and in that call, there was an invitation to the G7 Summit. The invitation has been accepted," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated at the customary media briefing.
"The discussion also gave both leaders an opportunity to look at the state of the present India-Canada relationship and how best to move it forward. Both nations are robust democracies, based on mutually aligned values, the rule of law, and strong people-to-people connections."
Jaiswal added that the proposed meeting between Modi and Carney, on the margins of the G7 meet in Canada, would be a beneficial opportunity for bilateral and global issues to be discussed. The leaders are likely to look into avenues for redefining the partnership on the basis of mutual appreciation, shared interests, and understanding and sensitivity towards each other's concerns.
India-Canada relations were severely strained in 2023 after the serious but unsubstantiated allegations leveled by the predecessor of Carney, Justin Trudeau, were brushed aside by New Delhi.
"There are mechanisms in place whereby Indian and Canadian law enforcement agencies have continued to meet on common security issues from time to time, and this process is likely to continue," Jaiswal added.
India has in the past complained about what it calls Canada's inaction against radical elements working within Canada, and its inability to block threats and attacks against Indian envoys.
"On the issue of anti-India activities—whether they take place in Canada or elsewhere—we have made our position clear. Our national security is our top priority, and we look to global partners to understand and address our concerns," the MEA spokesperson added.
Jaiswal underlined that the two nations could benefit mutually if they engaged more deeply with each other, particularly with their good democratic institutions, solid legal systems, increasing economic ties, technological relationships, student exchange, and large Indian diaspora community in Canada.
Carney had called Modi last week to officially invite him to the Kananaskis summit.
Glad to have spoken to Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada. Congratulated him on his victory in the latest elections and expressed gratitude for the invitation to G7 Summit at Kananaskis next month. As strong democracies with strong people-to-people connect, India and Canada will collaborate with new energy, based on mutual respect and common interests. Looking forward to our meeting at the Summit," PM Modi tweeted on X after the conversation.
Canada has the presidency of the G7 this year and will host the Leaders' Summit from June 15 to 17 in Kananaskis, Alberta.
The G7 is a loose group of advanced economies including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, as well as the European Union.
Prime Minister Modi had also participated in the last year's G7 Summit—the 50th edition—hosted by Italy in Apulia, where India was an Outreach Country.
That visit marked Modi’s first foreign trip after being sworn in for his third consecutive term as Prime Minister. It was India’s 11th participation at a G7 Summit and Modi’s fifth consecutive appearance, where he represented Indian and Global South interests in dialogue with key world leaders.
His visit to Canada later is in the midst of Prime Minister Carney's initiative to boost economic engagement with India—a desire he made a focus even throughout his election campaign, calling the relationship between India and Canada "incredibly important."
Carney stressed the long-standing individual, economic, and strategic bonds Canadians have with India.
Modi had greeted Carney's election victory and becoming prime minister after Trudeau's resignation.
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