Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed at Calgary International Airport in Canada on Tuesday to attend the G7 Summit. The summit is being held in the nearby Kananaskis village in Alberta. This is PM Modi’s first visit to Canada in nine years.

He was invited by Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, to attend the summit. The visit is important because it shows both countries want to improve their relationship, which had become tense after the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023.

Even though India is not a G7 member, PM Modi has been invited to the group’s meetings since 2019. This shows India’s growing importance in world affairs.

Why Modi’s Canada visit matters

PM Narendra Modi’s visit is happening at a time when India and Canada’s diplomatic ties are slowly improving. In 2023, things became worse after Canada linked Indian diplomats to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India strongly denied this and removed several Canadian diplomats. Canada also removed Indian diplomats from their country.

But now, with Justin Trudeau gone and Mark Carney becoming Canada’s Prime Minister in March 2025, there is hope to fix the broken relationship.

Before leaving India, PM Modi said:

“As vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties, India and Canada will work together with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests. Look forward to our meeting at the summit.”

India’s foreign ministry also said the meeting between PM Modi and PM Carney will give both countries a chance to “explore pathways” to reset ties.

During his last visit to Canada in 2015, India and Canada had raised their partnership to a “strategic” level. Trade and services between the two countries have grown since then. In 2024, India and Canada had $8.6 billion in goods trade and $14.3 billion in services trade.

The current visit shows both countries may be ready to rebuild ties, especially after India said it hoped to do so based on “mutual trust and sensitivity”.

What’s happening at the G7 Summit

The G7 Summit began on Monday and is being attended by leaders from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the European Union. It is also being attended by representatives from major global bodies like the United Nations, the World Bank, and the IMF.

This two-day summit is focusing on several global problems such as:

  • The Russia-Ukraine war
  • Tensions in West Asia, especially after the strikes between Iran and Israel
  • Global economy and effects of the trade war triggered by US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies

PM Modi will attend the G7 Outreach Sessions and hold bilateral meetings with other world leaders. His meetings are important because they will help India talk about global issues, share its views, and build stronger ties with powerful countries.

The visit also comes just a month after Operation Sindoor, where India attacked terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22.

 

PM Modi’s schedule (India Time)

  • June 17 (12:06 AM) – PM Modi landed at Calgary International Airport
  • June 17 (10:30 PM) – Welcome ceremony for G7 Outreach Summit leaders
  • June 17-18 (11:10 PM - 12:20 AM) – Bilateral meetings with other world leaders
  • June 18 (12:30 AM - 3:00 AM) – G7 Outreach Summit session
  • June 18 (3:00 AM - 4:30 AM) – More bilateral meetings
  • June 18 (5:50 AM) – Departure to Zagreb, Croatia

The short 23-hour visit is packed with important discussions and meetings, and it could lead to big changes in India’s relationship with Canada and the rest of the G7 countries.

PM Modi’s presence at the summit sends a message that India is a key voice in global issues, even if it is not officially part of the G7.

The world will now watch to see what comes from this high-level visit.

You might also be interested in: Air India AI-159 Ahmedabad-London flight cancelled due to 'operational issues'