Canada Officially Cancels PM Modi's Invitation to G7 Summit Amid Strained Ties

 

Toronto, June 5, 2025 — In a significant diplomatic development, Canada has officially withdrawn its invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the upcoming G7 Summit, scheduled to take place in Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15-17, 2025, sources confirmed on Thursday. This marks the first time in six years that Modi will not attend the high-profile gathering of world leaders, signaling ongoing tensions between Ottawa and New Delhi.

The decision comes amid frosty bilateral relations, primarily stemming from Canada’s allegations in September 2023, when then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian government agents of involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and pro-Khalistan separatist. India has consistently rejected these claims as “baseless,” with the Ministry of External Affairs emphasizing that Canada’s permissiveness toward extremist elements has strained ties.

Sources familiar with the matter indicated that no formal invitation was extended to Modi, and even if one had been issued, logistical challenges and security concerns would likely have prevented his attendance. “A high-level visit of this nature requires significant groundwork, especially given the current state of India-Canada relations,” an Indian official stated. Sikh organizations in Canada, citing India’s alleged non-cooperation in the Nijjar investigation, had urged Prime Minister Mark Carney’s administration to exclude Modi from the summit.

The G7 Summit, hosted by Canada, will see participation from leaders of the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and invited guests, including the presidents of Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, and Ukraine, as well as the prime minister of Australia. India’s absence from the guest list breaks a tradition of invitations extended to New Delhi since 2019, when Modi began attending G7 summits as a special invitee.

The Indian National Congress has criticized the Modi government, labeling the exclusion a “diplomatic bungle” and pointing to it as evidence of faltering foreign policy under Modi’s leadership. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh highlighted that former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had been a regular attendee at G8 summits, where his contributions, such as the Singh-Merkel formula for climate change in 2007, were globally recognized.

While Canada’s new government under Mark Carney, who assumed office in March 2025, has expressed interest in rebuilding ties with India through trade and diplomatic channels, officials in New Delhi remain cautious. Recent discussions between Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and her Indian counterpart, S. Jaishankar, have signaled a tentative thaw, but significant hurdles remain, particularly India’s concerns over Canada’s handling of Khalistani separatist activities.

Modi’s absence from the G7 Summit is seen as a missed opportunity to project India’s growing global influence, especially at a time when the prime minister faces domestic criticism over recent diplomatic challenges. Analysts suggest that the snub could have implications for India-Canada relations, with both sides needing to navigate a complex path to reconciliation.

As the summit approaches, the international community will be closely watching how India and Canada address their differences and whether this development signals a prolonged chill in bilateral ties.