Will India and Canada Discover New Avenues to Reset Their Ties During PM Modi's Visit?

New Delhi, June 12 (NationPress) - On Thursday, India announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accepted the invitation from his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, to participate in the G7 summit in Kananaskis next week, as both nations seek to explore new pathways for resetting their diplomatic relationship.

“Our Prime Minister received a call from the Canadian Prime Minister last week. During this conversation, Prime Minister Carney extended the invitation to attend the G7, which has been accepted. It was also an opportunity for the two leaders to reflect on India-Canada relations and consider future directions. Both nations are vibrant democracies, united by shared values and a strong commitment to the rule of law and robust people-to-people connections,” stated Randhir Jaiswal, Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), during a weekly media briefing.

Jaiswal emphasized that the upcoming meeting between the two leaders at the G7 summit in Kananaskis will provide a significant opportunity to discuss both bilateral and global issues while seeking avenues to reset their relationship grounded in mutual respect, shared interests, and sensitivity to each other's concerns.

The relationship between India and Canada faced serious challenges in 2023 following Justin Trudeau's unsubstantiated claims against New Delhi.

“There are established mechanisms between Indian and Canadian law enforcement agencies that have addressed mutual security concerns over time, and this engagement is expected to persist,” Jaiswal noted on Thursday.

India has accused Canada of allowing extremism within its borders and failing to take necessary actions to prevent attacks on its diplomats.

“Regarding anti-India activities, whether in Canada or elsewhere, we have clearly stated that our security concerns are paramount. We expect our international partners to consider our concerns and act accordingly,” Jaiswal added.

He highlighted that both nations stand to benefit from their engagements during the upcoming meetings, given their shared democratic values, rule of law, extensive economic ties, large student communities, technology collaborations, and more.

Last week, Carney reached out to PM Modi to extend the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis.

“I was pleased to receive a call from Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada. I congratulated him on his recent election victory and expressed my gratitude for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this month. As vibrant democracies connected by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will collaborate with renewed vigor, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. I look forward to our meeting at the Summit,” PM Modi shared on X following the call.

This year, Canada, as the G7 President, will host the G7 Leaders' Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta from June 15 to 17.

The Group of Seven (G7) comprises seven of the world's most advanced economies, including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, along with the European Union.

PM Modi also participated in the 50th G7 Summit hosted by Italy in Apulia last year, where India was invited as an Outreach Country.

This visit marked the Prime Minister's first overseas trip after beginning his third consecutive term.

It was India's 11th participation in the G7 Summit and PM Modi's fifth consecutive engagement at the G7, where he discussed critical issues relevant to India and the Global South.

The Kananaskis visit coincides with Prime Minister Mark Carney's push to deepen economic ties with India.

During his campaign, the Canadian Prime Minister emphasized that rebuilding relations with India was a priority for his government, labeling it as an “incredibly important relationship.”

He noted the profound personal, economic, and strategic connections Canadians have with India.

Prime Minister Modi also congratulated Carney on his election victory after Trudeau stepped down.