Modi Arrives in Canada for G7 Summit, Focuses on Global South, Bilateral Reset with Ottawa

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Canada on Monday to participate in the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, marking his first visit to the country in a decade. 

In a post on X, Modi said he would hold discussions with world leaders on key global challenges and highlight the priorities of the Global South during the summit. The visit marks Modi’s sixth consecutive participation in the G7 meetings.

Image Source: PM on X

Modi landed in Canada on the second leg of his ongoing four-day, three-nation tour that includes Cyprus and Croatia. 

He was invited by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who took office earlier this year following the departure of Justin Trudeau. 

Carney’s invitation signals an attempt to repair strained ties after diplomatic tensions under Trudeau’s leadership, which saw India recall several diplomats in 2023 over Ottawa’s handling of pro-Khalistani activities.

Both countries have since resumed security contacts, with discussions underway to appoint new high commissioners. Ahead of the summit, India’s External Affairs Ministry described India and Canada as “vibrant democracies” and called the scheduled meeting between Modi and Carney a valuable opportunity to reset ties based on mutual trust.

The G7 Summit is expected to focus on multiple global concerns, including the Middle East conflict following the escalating strikes between Israel and Iran, the Russia-Ukraine war, and trade tensions arising from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. The summit will also address energy security, technological innovation, and global economic stability. India, as one of the Outreach countries, continues its regular participation in G7 summits, having attended 11 outreach sessions since 2003.

India and Canada maintain strong economic and people-to-people ties, with bilateral trade in goods reaching USD 8.6 billion in 2024, while services trade stood at USD 14.3 billion. Canada hosts one of the largest Indian diasporas globally, including 1.8 million Canadians of Indian origin and about 1 million Non-Resident Indians. Indian students continue to represent a significant portion of Canada’s international student population, though recent immigration policy changes have affected student inflows and Canadian universities' revenues.

The G7 gathering in Kananaskis also coincides with Canada’s assumption of the group’s rotating presidency for 2025, marking the 50th anniversary of the summit. The G7 includes the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Japan, Italy, Canada, and the European Union, with India and several other nations participating as special invitees.