Canada to Host G7 Summit as Tensions with India Simmer

PCI

While Modi has attended every G7 summit since 2019, this year’s invitation is more controversial. (File Photo: Narendra Modi/Facebook)

Canada is set to host the G7 summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, next week, but diplomatic tensions are already in the spotlight. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has confirmed that he will attend, following an invitation from Prime Minister Mark Carney—his first visit to Canada since serious allegations surfaced against his government.

In a social media post, Modi stated that Carney had personally invited him to the gathering. “As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigor, guided by mutual respect and shared interests,” he wrote.

While Modi has attended every G7 summit since 2019, this year’s invitation is more controversial. The RCMP has accused Indian government agents of involvement in violence within Canada, including murder, extortion, and threats. One of the cases includes the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh leader, which Prime Minister Justin Trudeau linked to Indian agents last year. India has denied all allegations.

Some groups, including the Sikh Federation of Canada, have urged the government not to invite Modi until India cooperates more fully with Canadian investigations. Still, Carney appears to be taking a diplomatic approach.

“There are strains on that relationship that we didn’t cause,” Carney said during the recent election campaign. “But there is a path forward to address those with mutual respect.”

The summit will bring together leaders from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the European Union. While global issues such as trade, security, and climate change are on the agenda, Modi’s attendance is likely to draw extra attention.

As Canada seeks to balance its growing global partnerships with the need for accountability and public safety at home, the G7 may test the limits of diplomacy amid serious concerns.