The recent invitation extended by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15 to 17, 2025, marks a pivotal moment in the severely strained bilateral relationship between the two nations. This diplomatic overture comes after a year and a half of heightened acrimony, primarily triggered by allegations of Indian government involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023. Prime Minister Modi’s swift acceptance of the invitation, coupled with his expressed commitment to “renewed vigour” in bilateral ties, suggests a mutual desire to navigate the complex diplomatic landscape. The transition of leadership in Canada, with Prime Minister Carney’s recent election victory in April 2025, has been widely perceived as an opportunity for a much-needed reset, signalling a more pragmatic and commercially focused approach to foreign policy.
The timing of this invitation, extended less than 10 days before the summit , indicates a deliberate and possibly urgent strategic decision by the new Canadian administration to ensure India’s presence. This could imply that the new Carney administration, after internal consultations, including with other G7 members as Prime Minister Carney stated , felt compelled to act swiftly to secure India’s participation. The timing therefore underscores the strategic importance Canada and its G7 partners place on India’s attendance.
While this overture is framed as a “thaw” in the strained relationship , it is more accurately characterized as a calculated diplomatic maneuver by Canada to re-engage with a crucial global power, rather than a full resolution of underlying tensions. Despite this apparent “thaw,” the core issue of the Nijjar killing and the ongoing investigation remains unresolved. Prime Minister Carney has declined to comment directly on the investigation, citing ongoing legal proceedings. Furthermore, Sikh organizations in Canada continue to express strong criticism of the invitation. Prime Minister Carney has emphasized that India and Canada have “agreed importantly to continue law enforcement dialogue” and that “there’s been some progress on that…recognises issues of accountability”. This suggests a deliberate compartmentalization of issues, where the immediate need for engagement on global priorities is separated from the ongoing criminal investigation.
The Invitation: Rationale and Acceptance
The upcoming G7 Summit, hosted by Canada in Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15 to 17, will bring together the world’s leading industrialized nations—France, Germany, Italy, the UK, Japan, the US, and Canada—along with the EU and global organizations like the IMF, World Bank, and UN. The decision to invite Prime Minister Modi to this significant gathering was firmly defended by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose rationale underscored India’s undeniable global significance and positioned its presence as essential for the summit’s agenda.
Prime Minister Carney staunchly defended his decision to invite Prime Minister Modi, highlighting India’s critical global role. He emphasized that India is the world’s fifth-largest economy and effectively the most populous country. He reiterated that India’s presence “made sense” given its stature. Furthermore, India is central to and at the heart of a number of critical global supply chains. Prime Minister Carney stressed that India’s presence is essential for discussions on key global priorities such as energy security, critical minerals, the digital future, artificial intelligence, climate action, and partnerships for infrastructure development in emerging and developing nations. He affirmed that he extended the invitation to Modi after consulting with other G7 member countries. This was corroborated by Vina Nadjibulla, Vice President of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, who stated there was a “strong push from other G6 to have India at the table”.
Prime Minister Modi promptly confirmed his participation in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister @MarkJCarney 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”. It is noteworthy that India has been invited to every G7 Summit since 2019, with Prime Minister Modi attending in person every year since August 2019, except for the virtual summit in 2021 and the cancelled 2020 huddle. Beyond the G7 members, Canada has also extended invitations to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum (pending confirmation).
The consistent invitation to India by the G7, despite its non-member status, and the reported “strong push from other G6” members underscore a fundamental shift in global power dynamics. The G7, traditionally a forum for industrialized democracies, recognizes its diminished centrality without engaging rising economies like India, particularly on issues such as supply chains, energy security, and critical minerals. As noted by former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal, “With shifts in power eastwards the G7 has lost centrality and needs to reach out to key rising economies to remain relevant. The G20 was the result. India in its own right and as a leader of the Global South matters”. The G7’s agenda, which focuses on pressing global issues like energy security, critical minerals, digital transformation, and climate action, cannot be effectively addressed without the participation of major global players like India. India’s substantial economic and demographic weight directly impacts these challenges, making its inclusion a functional necessity for the G7’s discussions to be comprehensive and impactful. This pattern suggests that the G7, while still a significant forum, is adapting to a multipolar world where its influence and effectiveness are increasingly tied to its ability to collaborate with non-member rising powers. India’s consistent invitation is therefore not merely a diplomatic courtesy but a strategic imperative for the G7’s continued relevance in shaping global governance.
Prime Minister Carney’s defence of the invitation, despite domestic criticism, highlights a foreign policy philosophy where engagement is a necessity for advancing national interests, rather than a reward for good behaviour or a sign of resolved disputes. Vina Nadjibulla explicitly articulated this perspective, stating, “Diplomacy is not a gift to our friends. It’s not a concession. It’s a necessary tool to be able to advance our interests and defend our values”. Prime Minister Carney himself stated that “There are certain countries that should be at the table for those discussions”. The recognition of India’s indispensable role in addressing global challenges, such as economic stability, supply chain resilience, and energy security, compels Canada to engage, even when bilateral relations are strained by sensitive issues like the Nijjar killing. The strategic benefits derived from this engagement are deemed to outweigh the domestic political discomfort or the unresolved nature of specific disputes. This approach signifies a mature and pragmatic shift in Canadian foreign policy, indicating that Canada is prioritizing its broader national interests and global responsibilities by engaging with key international players, rather than allowing specific bilateral grievances or domestic political pressures to entirely dictate its diplomatic interactions. This positions Canada as a more robust and independent actor on the world stage.
The Strained Backdrop: The Nijjar Killing and Its Aftermath
The recent G7 invitation cannot be fully understood without acknowledging the profound diplomatic rift that preceded it, primarily ignited by the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and prominent pro-Khalistan activist, was shot and killed outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. India had previously accused Nijjar of being a criminal and terrorist affiliated with the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) and Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), with Interpol red notices issued against him in 2014 and 2016.
The diplomatic crisis escalated significantly in September 2023 when then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly alleged “credible allegations of a potential link between agents of the government of India and the killing of a Canadian citizen, Hardeep Singh Nijjar”. He stated that he had presented these accusations directly to Prime Minister Modi “in no uncertain terms” during the G20 summit in New Delhi. Trudeau emphasized that any foreign government involvement in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil constituted an “unacceptable violation of our sovereignty”.
In response, India vehemently rejected these charges as “absurd,” “motivated,” and “baseless”. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs stated that such unsubstantiated allegations sought to shift focus from “Khalistani terrorists and extremists, who have been provided shelter in Canada and continue to threaten India’s sovereignty and territorial integrity”. India urged Canada to take prompt and effective legal action against anti-India elements operating from its soil, citing Canada’s inaction as a “long-standing and continuing concern”. India also maintained that Canada had not provided any evidence linking the Indian government to Nijjar’s death.
This exchange of accusations led to a severe diplomatic standoff and a “tit-for-tat” escalation. Both countries expelled senior diplomats. India also temporarily suspended the issuance of visas for all Canadian nationals, citing “security threats”. Trade negotiations were suspended. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) investigation into Nijjar’s killing is ongoing, including inquiries into possible connections between the killing and the Indian government. In May 2024, three Indian nationals were arrested and charged in connection with Nijjar’s murder. Furthermore, a Public Inquiry into Foreign Interference in Federal Electoral Processes and Democratic Institutions, led by Commissioner Marie-Josée Hogue, released its final report on January 28, 2025. This report identified India as the second most active foreign actor in Canadian elections, after China, highlighting intelligence suggesting that proxy agents might have covertly offered illicit financial support to certain Canadian politicians to promote pro-India candidates or influence officeholders. India’s Ministry of External Affairs categorically denied these assertions, rejecting them as unfounded insinuations . This complex and multi-faceted backdrop underscores the deep-seated challenges that persist despite the recent diplomatic overture.
What more?
The invitation extended by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the G7 Summit represents a calculated and pragmatic shift in Canada’s foreign policy. This move, occurring amidst a deeply strained bilateral relationship following the Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing and subsequent diplomatic fallout, underscores Canada’s recognition of India’s indispensable economic and strategic importance on the global stage.
The analysis indicates that the invitation is primarily driven by geopolitical and economic imperatives. Prime Minister Carney’s justification, emphasizing India’s status as the world’s fifth-largest economy, its role as the most populous nation, and its centrality to global supply chains and critical discussions on energy, minerals, and digital futures, highlights a clear prioritization of broader national interests. The fact that this decision was made in consultation with other G7 members, who also expressed a strong desire for India’s presence, further illustrates a collective acknowledgment within the G7 of India’s growing influence and its necessity for addressing global challenges effectively. This approach signifies that diplomacy is being utilized as a necessary tool to advance national interests, rather than as a reward or concession contingent on the resolution of specific bilateral disputes.
While the invitation marks a tentative “thaw” and a step towards recalibrating relations, it is crucial to understand that it does not signify a full resolution of the underlying tensions. The ongoing investigation into the Nijjar killing, the differing perspectives on Khalistani extremism, and the mutual expulsions of diplomats remain significant points of contention. Prime Minister Carney’s careful navigation of these issues, by acknowledging the investigation while declining to comment on its specifics, demonstrates an effort to compartmentalize the criminal probe from the broader diplomatic engagement.
Looking forward, the G7 meeting provides a critical platform for high-level dialogue between India and Canada. This engagement may facilitate a gradual rebuilding of trust and a renewed focus on areas of mutual interest, such as trade, investment, and strategic alignment, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. The resumption of law enforcement dialogue, as noted by Prime Minister Carney, also suggests a channel for addressing sensitive issues discreetly. However, the path to fully normalized relations will likely be complex and protracted, requiring sustained diplomatic effort, a commitment to mutual respect, and careful management of domestic sensitivities in both countries. The G7 invitation serves as a strategic opening, but the substantive work of mending ties and addressing core disagreements lies ahead.
