PM Modi Arrives in Canada for G7 Summit: Focus on Energy, Innovation, and India-Canada Ties Reset

Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Canada on Monday, June 16, 2025, for the 51st G7 Summit at Kananaskis, marking his first visit to the country in a decade. Modi's arrival from Cyprus is part of a three-nation diplomatic tour and signifies a renewed effort to strengthen global collaboration and address pressing geopolitical challenges.

Key Agenda at the G7 Summit

The summit, hosted by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, is centered around global issues such as energy security, emerging technologies, and innovation. Special focus is expected on the AI-energy nexus and quantum technologies. Modi is also slated to engage in multiple bilateral discussions with global leaders during the two-day summit.

Operation Sindoor and Strategic Significance

Modi's visit comes shortly after India’s Operation Sindoor—a major counter-terror operation targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attacks. This adds strategic weight to his engagements at the summit, where international cooperation on terrorism will be a vital talking point.

India-Canada Diplomatic Reset

This visit also marks a significant step toward mending strained India-Canada relations. Diplomatic ties had deteriorated following the assassination of pro-Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and the expulsion of diplomats on both sides in 2024. The presence of Modi in Canada, at Carney’s personal invitation, signals a mutual willingness to rebuild trust and cooperation.

Carney’s appointment as Prime Minister in March 2025, following Justin Trudeau’s departure, was welcomed by New Delhi. India expressed hope to restart relations based on "mutual trust and sensitivity." Talks of appointing new high commissioners are already underway, and Modi’s visit offers an opportunity to further the reset.

Vibrant Democracies with Growing Trade

Describing India and Canada as "vibrant democracies," India’s Ministry of External Affairs emphasized the importance of this visit in shaping the trajectory of bilateral ties. During Modi's last visit in 2015, the relationship had been elevated to a strategic partnership.

In 2024, bilateral goods trade between the nations reached USD 8.6 billion, while trade in services stood at USD 14.3 billion. However, Canadian immigration policies in recent months have impacted Indian students, who previously constituted 41% of Canada’s international student body.

Geopolitical Backdrop

This year’s G7 Summit is taking place amid global uncertainties, including escalating conflicts in the Middle East and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war. The presence of leaders like U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo underlines the summit’s high diplomatic stakes.

Canada, which assumed the rotating G7 presidency on January 1, 2025, is hosting the summit during its 50th anniversary. The Outreach Segment, which India will participate in, will explore solutions to global crises and policy alignment on pressing challenges.

Significance of the Indian Diaspora

With over 1.8 million Canadians of Indian origin and a further 1 million NRIs in Canada, the Indian diaspora plays a key role in people-to-people relations. Despite recent challenges over immigration policies, the diaspora remains a strong cultural and economic bridge between the two nations.

Conclusion

PM Modi’s presence at the G7 Summit in Canada underscores India’s evolving role as a global player. His visit not only strengthens India's global diplomatic footprint but also opens a crucial chapter in rebuilding India-Canada relations amidst a complex geopolitical landscape.