Prime Minister Narendra Modi was warmly received by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday as he arrived in Kananaskis, Alberta, to participate in the G7 Outreach Summit. This marks PM Modi’s first visit to Canada in a decade and his sixth consecutive appearance at the G7 gathering.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared the moment on X, stating:
“Building bridges for global progress and cooperation. PM @MarkJCarney of Canada welcomed PM @narendramodi at the #G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada.”
PM Modi also held bilateral meetings with several world leaders, including Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. These high-level interactions come in the wake of India’s recent Operation Sindoor, a targeted response to terror infrastructure following the Pahalgam attacks.
During the Summit, PM Modi is expected to engage with G7 leaders and invited outreach nations on critical global topics such as energy security, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and climate resilience. He reiterated that India’s participation will reflect the concerns and aspirations of the Global South.
PM Modi posted on X upon arrival:
“Landed in Calgary, Canada, to take part in the G7 Summit. Will be meeting various leaders at the Summit and sharing my thoughts on important global issues. Will also be emphasising the priorities of the Global South.”
The Kananaskis summit is also viewed as a diplomatic reset in India-Canada ties, which had deteriorated under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau following his controversial remarks on the killing of a Khalistani extremist. The current Canadian leadership under PM Carney has made overtures to restore relations, with renewed security-level discussions and plans to appoint new High Commissioners.
Modi’s visit to Canada is part of a larger three-nation tour aimed at thanking global partners for their support in counter-terrorism efforts and rallying international cooperation against cross-border extremism.
Bilateral trade between India and Canada in 2024 reached $8.6 billion in goods and $14.3 billion in services. Canada hosts one of the largest Indian diasporas globally, with over 1.8 million Canadians of Indian origin and close to one million NRIs, including students and professionals. However, recent shifts in Canadian immigration policy have impacted Indian students and higher education institutions alike.
PM Modi’s packed schedule includes expected meetings with leaders such as French President Emmanuel Macron, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, Japanese PM Shigeru Ishiba, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. He is also likely to meet with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and other dignitaries from international organisations.
