G7 in Kananaskis Begins Under Global Spotlight; Modi’s Visit Comes After Diplomatic Standoff over Nijjar Killing Allegations, All Eyes on Trump’s Return to Global Stage
Calgary (Canada): In a development that may signal a turning point in India-Canada relations, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Calgary on Tuesday to participate in the 51st G7 Summit held at Kananaskis, Alberta. The visit, at the invitation of newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, is widely viewed as a diplomatic oliv e branch following months of icy relations between the two countries.
This marks Modi’s first visit to Canada since the September 2023 fallout, when then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Indian government of involvement in the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead in a Vancouver parking lot in June 2023. The Trudeau administration even went so far as to name Indian embassy officials as accused in the assassination.
“The Indian government categorically rejected these allegations and responded with strong diplomatic pushback, straining bilateral ties to a historic low,” said an official familiar with the developments.
Following Trudeau’s departure from office, Mark Carney’s invitation to Prime Minister Modi signals a potential thaw. Both governments are expected to initiate dialogue to rebuild confidence, rekindle trade and economic cooperation, and re-establish high-level diplomatic channels.
Before landing in Canada, Prime Minister Modi visited Cyprus, where he held high-level talks with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. Several bilateral agreements were inked, expanding cooperation in areas like trade, defence, and technology.
Meanwhile, the G7 summit itself has taken on heightened significance amid escalating geopolitical tensions. The conflict between Iran and Israel in the Middle East has become a critical discussion point, with the potential to shape global security dynamics.
Adding to the summit's intrigue is the return of US President Donald Trump to the global stage. Having walked out of the G7 summit in 2018 during his first term due to a trade dispute with Canada, his re-entry is being closely watched.
“Trump’s participation marks a dramatic comeback to multilateral diplomacy after years of isolationist policies. His stance on current conflicts and alliances is likely to influence the summit’s outcomes,” an international affairs expert commented.
The coming days will determine whether Modi’s presence in Canada, a diplomatically sensitive visit, will catalyse a new chapter in Indo-Canadian relations, and how the G7 powers will tackle mounting global crises.
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