Canada PM Mark Carney Reveals Why He Invited PM Modi To G7 Summit

Last Updated:June 07, 2025, 19:52 IST

Hours after extending the invitation, Mark Carney cited India’s status as the fifth-largest economy as a reason for the invite.

Mark Carney's victory signals a shift in India-Canada ties. (Reuters)

Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday (local time) spilled the beans on inviting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to this month’s G7 summit in Kananaskis.

Hours after extending the invitation, Carney cited India’s status as the fifth-largest economy as a reason for the invite. Carney said that the most populous country in the world, with the fifth largest economy, should be present at this year’s G7 summit.

Carney further emphasised that India’s presence at the intergovernmental political and economic forum is essential where discussions on important issues, including security and energy would be held.

“As chair of the G7, it is important to invite the most important countries to attend to talk about important issues such as energy, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and India is really at the very centre of global supply chains," Carney said during a news conference on Parliament Hill, as reported by The Globe and Mail.

Carney said that India and Canada are acting on law enforcement, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accepted his invitation.

“In addition, bilaterally we have now agreed importantly to continued law enforcement to law enforcement dialogue so there’s been some progress on that recognizes issues of accountability I extended the invitation to Prime Minister Modi for in in that context and he has accepted it," he said.

The Canadian PM further declined to say whether he believed India had any involvement in pro-Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing. “There is a legal process that is literally under way and quite advanced in Canada, and it’s never appropriate to make comments with respect to those legal processes," Carney said.

He further asserted that Canada follows rule of law and no one would interfere in the ongoing investigations. Carney’ predecessor Justin Trudeau had openly accused New Delhi of plotting the murder of Nijjar.

PM Modi Confirms His Participation

PM Modi on Friday confirmed he would attend the upcoming Group of Seven (G7) leaders summit in Canada after an invitation from newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

“Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister Mark J Carney of Canada. Congratulated him on his recent election victory and thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this month. As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the Summit," he said in a post on X.

Indo-Canadian Souring Ties

Indo-Canadian ties have nosedived in the aftermath of Nijjar’s killing as well as Trudeau’s allegations.

In September 2023, Trudeau had accused New Delhi of having a “potential" involvement of Indian agents in Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing.

India has repeatedly denied these allegations, and has taken a decisive stand against what it perceives as Canada’s non-seriousness in dealing with the Khalistan issue.

The ties further strained when Trudeau named Indian High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma as a person of interest in an investigation, without naming the case. A person of interest means a suspect who is not arrested.

Earlier this year, a public inquiry on foreign interference in Canada has found “no definitive link to a foreign state" in the killing of Nijjar.

Ottawa, Canada

News world Canada PM Mark Carney Reveals Why He Invited PM Modi To G7 Summit