Kananaskis: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in the Canadian town of Kananaskis on Tuesday (IST) to participate in the outreach session of the G7 Summit, where he will engage with world leaders on critical global economic and security challenges. Modi’s visit follows a stopover in Cyprus and marks his sixth participation in a G7 outreach since 2019, underscoring India’s growing role on the global stage.
During his visit, Modi is scheduled to meet with several global leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. These discussions are expected to take place either before or after the outreach session, according to sources familiar with the matter.
A significant focus will be on Modi’s first meeting with Carney, seen as a chance to repair strained India-Canada relations following a diplomatic fallout over allegations related to the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The Indian government had vehemently denied the accusations made by former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in 2023, and bilateral ties had since suffered, with both countries expelling diplomats and freezing high-level engagement.
With Carney now leading the Canadian government, both sides are reportedly eager to reset relations. The Indian side is expected to raise concerns about pro-Khalistan activities in Canada, while Ottawa is likely to press for cooperation in combating transnational crime networks.
Modi’s meeting with Zelensky will focus on India’s humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and efforts to encourage a diplomatic resolution to the ongoing war with Russia. India has consistently maintained that dialogue, not conflict, is the path to peace. Reconstruction, food and fertilizer security, and broader support for Ukraine are likely to be on the agenda.
The Prime Minister is also expected to hold his first bilateral engagement with Chancellor Merz, where discussions will center on economic cooperation, green technology, and trade. Modi shares a warm rapport with Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni, and their meeting is expected to further strategic collaboration in infrastructure and connectivity, including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).
This year's G7 outreach session will address a range of pressing global challenges—from energy security, countering foreign interference, and digital transition to leveraging emerging technologies like AI and quantum computing. Mobilizing private investment for global infrastructure and securing mineral supply chains will also feature prominently.
India is expected to use its platform to advocate for the Global South, as it has done in previous summits, aligning with its broader strategic vision of representing developing countries in global governance.
The session is taking place amid heightened geopolitical tensions, particularly following clashes between Iran and Israel, which reportedly influenced U.S. President Donald Trump’s early departure from the summit—ruling out a potential Modi-Trump meeting.
Despite the absence of direct engagement with the U.S. president, Modi’s participation reflects India’s rising diplomatic stature and its increasing involvement in shaping global responses to security and economic challenges.
