Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s whirlwind 10-hour visit to Canada during the G7 Summit turned into a high-octane day of diplomacy. Invited by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney as a special guest to the summit, Modi used every moment to engage with global leaders and strengthen India’s strategic ties across continents.
Though India is not a G7 member, Modi’s presence sent a clear signal of India’s growing relevance in global affairs. On the sidelines of the summit, the Indian PM held 12 bilateral meetings, making it one of his busiest single-day diplomatic schedules in recent times.
Rekindling Ties with Canada
Among the most significant developments was the warming of India-Canada relations. The two countries had hit a diplomatic low under former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, largely due to tensions surrounding Khalistani separatism. But the arrival of Carney at the helm appears to have reset the tone. Both sides agreed to restore high commissioners in New Delhi and Ottawa, and emphasized the need for closer cooperation in sectors like energy security and artificial intelligence.
Modi described the relationship as “extremely important,” stating, “India is committed to working closely with Canada to deepen our friendship.” Carney echoed the sentiment, pointing to shared goals and the need for strong bilateral collaboration.
A Day of High-Profile Diplomacy
Modi’s agenda included key one-on-one discussions with several world leaders:
Emmanuel Macron (France): The camaraderie was evident. Modi said speaking with Macron was “always a pleasure,” as both leaders committed to strengthening the India-France strategic partnership. Keir Starmer (UK): The Indian PM called the meeting with the British PM “exceptional,” underlining the momentum in bilateral cooperation in trade, defence, and innovation. Giorgia Meloni (Italy): Modi hailed the India-Italy bond, affirming that the growing partnership would benefit the citizens of both nations. Anthony Albanese (Australia), Cyril Ramaphosa (South Africa), and Shigeru Ishiba (Japan): These meetings focused on cooperation in global south development, technology, and security frameworks. Friedrich Merz (Germany): This marked Modi’s first bilateral with the new German Chancellor. Discussions centered on future collaboration in counter-terrorism and strategic policy alignment. Modi expressed optimism, saying he was pleased with the mutual understanding between the two nations.
As the summit wrapped up, Modi departed early Wednesday (IST) for Croatia, continuing his multi-nation diplomatic tour.
While G7 may have been the backdrop, Modi’s stopover in Canada turned into a showcase of India’s growing global outreach and a statement of intent to play a larger role on the world stage.
