Canadian Prime Minister Carney extends an invitation to Indian PM Modi for the June G7 summit, set to take place in Canada.
Loosened Ties, Now a G7 Gesture
In a bid to rebuild diplomatic ties, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney extended an invitation to his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, to the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) summit. The two leaders spoke over the phone on Friday, with relations between their countries having deteriorated over the past two years.
The conversation between Carney and Modi was marked by a promise to maintain communication and anticipation for their upcoming encounter at the G7 summit later this month, according to a readout from Carney's office. Interestingly, while India is not a G7 member, they can be invited as a guest to these annual meetings, with this year's gathering taking place in the Canadian province of Alberta, from June 15 to 17.
Modi took to social media, stating, "Grateful for the call from PM Carney...looking forward to attending the G7 Summit!" He also expressed his aspirations for India and Canada to collaborate with renewed enthusiasm, based on mutual respect and shared interests.
The diplomatic rift between the two nations escalated after Canada accused India of involvement in the murder of a Sikh separatist leader and alleged attempts to influence two recent elections. In 2024, Canada expelled several top Indian diplomats and consular officials, linking them to the murder and suggesting a broader effort to target Indian dissidents in Canada. New Delhi firmly denies these allegations and intervened by expelling an equal number of Canadian diplomats.
India ranks as Canada's 10th largest trading partner, and Canada boasts the title of the largest exporter of pulses, including lentils, to India. In an effort to diversify trade movements away from the U.S., Carney emphasized the wisdom in the G7 inviting India, as it possesses the fifth-largest economy worldwide and is a central player in numerous supply chains.
In addition to the G7 invitation, Carney revealed that both countries have agreed to continue law enforcement dialogue, signifying some progress in addressing accountability concerns. The Canadian Prime Minister extended the invitation to Prime Minister Modi in this context.
Four Indian nationals have been charged in connection with the murder of the Sikh separatist leader.
With this invitation, the question remains whether the move will be met with acceptance or further disapproval from Canadian groups. Undeniably, the relationship between Canada and India carries on amidst challenges, as both nations work towards rebuilding trust and strengthening diplomatic ties.
[1] "India-Canada Ties Strained Over Killing, Election Meddling Allegations". Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-canada-diplomacy-idUSKCN2G62XO
[2] "Canada-India Relations: Diplomatic Expulsions, Murder Investigations, and Election Allegations". The Diplomat. https://thediplomat.com/essays/canada-india-relations-diplomatic-expulsions-murder-investigations-and-election-allegations/
[3] "Canada-India Ties: A Strained Relationship". India Today. https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/canada-india-ties-strained-over-murder-of-sikh-leader-and-election-meddling-1725014-2024-01-14
[4] "Protests and Backlash: The Reaction to Canada's India Summit Invitation". The Globe and Mail. https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-protests-and-backlash-the-reaction-to-canadas-india-summit-invitation/
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- The invitation extended by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to Indian counterpart Narendra Modi to attend the G7 summit, despite the politics-laden history between the two nations, signals a step forward in general-news terms, aiming to rebuild diplomatic ties.
- As the G7 summit approaches, the general-news landscape is abuzz with anticipation, witnesing the promise of renewed collaboration between Canada and India, both looking to leverage their shared interests and mutual respect to foster stronger diplomatic ties.
