Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Calgary, Canada, to participate in the G7 Summit. The summit is being held in Canmore, Alberta, where Prime Minister Modi will soon meet with other global leaders.
PM Modi in Canada: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Calgary, Alberta, Canada on Monday to represent India at the 51st G7 Summit. This visit is significant as it is PM Modi's first trip to Canada since the sharp diplomatic tensions between India and Canada in 2023 over the Khalistan issue.
The summit is taking place in the beautiful mountain region of Canmore, Canada, bringing together major democratic powers—France, the US, the UK, Germany, Japan, and Italy—on one platform. Canada is hosting the G7 summit this year, and Prime Minister Modi received a formal invitation from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. This marks the sixth consecutive time PM Modi is strengthening India's participation on a global platform like the G7.
A New Turn in India-Canada Relations?
The significance of this Canadian visit extends beyond global diplomacy. It occurs at a time when relations between India and Canada have been severely strained. Following the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023, Canada publicly accused India. Then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau directly implicated the Indian government, severely damaging the trust between the two nations.
This led to several consequences, including disruptions in visa services, the withdrawal of diplomats, and discomfort in trade. However, with a change in power in Canada and experienced politicians like Mark Carney in office, hopes for renewed relations with India have risen.
G7 Summit Agenda: Focus on Global Issues
The main agenda for this year's G7 summit includes climate change, global economic stability, the Ukraine crisis, and global cooperation in technology. Although India is not a member of the G7 group, PM Modi's role as a voice for the Global South is considered extremely important. India has often brought the concerns of developing nations to these platforms, particularly on issues of climate finance, energy security, and sustainable development. It is expected that PM Modi will highlight India's contributions to technology, climate justice, and global health this time as well.
Although the presence of US President Donald Trump on the first day of the summit caused a stir, he left before the later sessions due to the situation in the Middle East. This prevented the proposed meeting between PM Modi and Trump from taking place. White House Press Secretary Carolyn Levit stated that Trump only met with UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer to sign trade agreements before immediately departing.
