On the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, marking a potentially significant step towards mending strained relations between India and Canada. The meeting, the first between the leaders since diplomatic tensions arose last year, was held on June 17, 2025, and both leaders emphasized the importance of a strong bilateral relationship.
Prime Minister Modi expressed his gratitude to Prime Minister Carney for the invitation to the G7 Summit, noting his pleasure at visiting Canada again and connecting with its people. He underscored the significance of the India-Canada relationship, highlighting the investments made by Canadian companies in India and the substantial investments by the Indian diaspora in Canada. He stated that, “India and Canada relations are very important in many ways. Many Canadian companies have investments in India. The people of India also have a huge investment on Canadian soil".
Both Modi and Carney acknowledged the shared democratic values that underpin the relationship between the two countries, emphasizing the need to collaboratively strengthen democracy and humanity. This sentiment was echoed by the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, who conveyed on X, "Building bridges for global progress and cooperation. PM @MarkJCarney of Canada welcomed PM @narendramodi at the #G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada."
Prime Minister Modi also highlighted India's growing role on the global stage, particularly its leadership during the G20 Summit. He noted the opportunity to leverage the foundation laid during India's G20 presidency to further global good within the G7 framework.
The meeting is seen as a crucial step in revitalizing India-Canada relations, which experienced a downturn following allegations made by then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2023 regarding the involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. These allegations led to a period of strained diplomacy, including the expulsion of diplomats and reduced diplomatic engagement from both countries.
Prior to the G7 Summit, Prime Minister Carney expressed the importance of including India in discussions on global issues such as energy, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals, citing India's position as the world's fifth-largest economy and its central role in global supply chains.
In addition to meeting with Prime Minister Carney, Prime Minister Modi engaged in bilateral meetings with other world leaders attending the G7 Summit, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung. These meetings covered a range of topics, from strengthening bilateral cooperation to addressing global and regional issues.
The G7 Summit provided a platform for India to highlight the priorities of the Global South and engage in discussions on crucial global issues, including energy security, technology, and innovation, particularly the AI-energy nexus and quantum-related issues. India, while not a member of the G7, has been a regular participant in Outreach Summits since 2003, marking this year as the sixth consecutive time India has been invited to the summit.
