Summit of Resolve: G7 in Canada Welcomes India to Rechart Global Priorities -

1. Setting the Stage: Why Canada Invites Global Partners

Canada will host the upcoming 51st G7 Summit from June 15–17, 2025, in Kananaskis, Alberta a repeat of its 2002 G8 host site. Led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, Canada steps into the presidency role amid multiple global challenges: trade tensions, climate emergencies, and strategic competition in the Indo‑Pacific.

Despite longstanding tensions with India stemming notably from the 2023 killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil Carney has extended an invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He stressed that bringing India to the table “made sense,” given its status as the world’s 5th-largest economy, key role in global supply chains, and geopolitical weight. This invitation is a sharp pivot from earlier Canadian skepticism and a renewed diplomatic overture.

2. Core Objectives & Challenge Areas

a) Economic Resilience & Supply Chains

A key motive is bolstering supply-chain security. With events like COVID-19 and geopolitical friction exposing vulnerabilities, the G7 seeks to partner with economies like India to diversify critical inputs and reduce reliance on any single nation.

b) Strengthening Global Governance

Facing widespread criticism of exclusivity, the G7 is broadening its scope. Canada has invited outreach nations including India, Brazil, Argentina, and African and Middle Eastern leaders to foster a more inclusive and representative dialogue .

c) Security & Indo‑Pacific Engagement

Security in the Indo‑Pacific is a focal point, reflected in discussions from the March Foreign Ministers’ meetings in Quebec, which addressed Indo‑Pacific resilience. India’s maritime capacities and Quad leadership make its involvement especially strategic.

d) Technology, AI & Climate

Sessions on artificial intelligence and energy are central. These extend the “Hiroshima AI process” launched in 2023, and dovetail with Canada’s funding efforts—like the $360 million AI-for‑development initiative in the Indo‑Pacific. Environmental resilience food systems, biodiversity, clean energy also takes priority, in line with Canada’s climate funding to global causes .

3. India’s Strategic Perch at the Summit

India represents a bridge between the G7 and global south, echoing its G20 troika role alongside Brazil and South Africa. Through these forums, India amplifies voices from South Asia and Africa, emphasizing equity and inclusive governance. India’s engagements with France, Canada, and G7 nations often spotlight defence collaboration and partnerships under the “Make in India” initiative. Prior G7 meetings saw Modi-Macron strategies to deepen defence ties. During recent summits, India has reiterated its stance that diplomacy not war is the path forward on Ukraine, focusing especially on food, fertiliser, and energy disruptions that affect developing nations. India-Canada tensions stemming from Nijjar’s killing and Canada’s accusations have strained bilateral relations. India has rejected these as “absurd,” and protests that Canada’s political environment supports extremist elements, urging corrective action (m.thewire.in).
Despite this, Modi recently accepted Canada’s G7 invite, extending “renewed vigour” to bilateral cooperation based on mutual respect . Behind the scenes, both sides have continued discreet interactions between agencies like the RCMP and CSIS, including high-level visits to discuss extradition and counter-terrorism (thehindu.com).

4. India’s Diplomatic Playbook

India enters the G7 with clear goals:

Reasserting the Global South voice in debates over equity and multilateralism.
Strengthening defence and maritime security, especially in Indo‑Pacific discussions.
Shaping technology governance, particularly around AI ethics and privacy.
Advancing climate-resilient funding, aligning with G7 initiatives but advocating for fairer burden-sharing.
Navigating bilateral friction, while keeping focus on shared challenges and future alignment.

Final Thoughts

Canada’s decision to host India at the G7, despite diplomatic turbulence, underscores a shift toward pragmatic, inclusive multilateralism. The summit’s heightened focus on supply chain diversification, technology ethics, global governance, Indo‑Pacific security, and climate resilience requires India’s active engagement.

For India, this invitation signifies its maturation as a global leader—capable of driving the Global South’s priorities, bolstering technological and defence ties, and navigating complex geopolitical dynamics.

Modi’s participation, following proactive outreach from Ottawa, marks an opportunity: India can advance its core interests and values, strengthen defence and economic collaboration, and help steer the G7 toward a more inclusive, resilient future. The Kananaskis summit may well be remembered as a turning point—not just in India‑Canada relations, but in the global order itself.

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