The G7 Summit has never been just a meeting of rich
countries at the highest level. It's a forum where the most powerful
democracies in the world gather to discuss the important stuff—climate change,
global security, economic stability, and so on. When Canada, the host country
of the 2025 G7 Summit, invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it was
going to raise some eyebrows.
The action was surprising to many Canadians, especially
those who have been following the diplomatic rift between India and Canada over
the year before. Even controversial. However, recently elected and
well-respected Prime Minister Mark Carney refused to back down. His message? “India’s role at the table makes
sense.”
Let's study why, despite its apparent difficulty, this
decision could be more about progress than politics.
A Complicated Backdrop
To explain the tension, we must return to late 2023. Canada
officially accused Indian government agents of complicity in the murder of
Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and Sikh activist, in British
Columbia. The implications were immediate: diplomatic relations chilled, visa
services were stopped, and officials on both sides were recalled.
It was a difficult time. For the benefit of common people
and diplomacy, specially Canada's sizable Sikh community. Many people are still
in mourning, looking for justice, and seeking answers. So when Carney extended
an invitation to Modi to the G7, many thought it came too soon, too gently, or
even was a betrayal.
According to the World-Sikh-Organization, the response was
"shocking." Sukh Dhaliwal, a Liberal MP, said his Surrey constituents
were really upset. "They were looking for justice, not for
diplomacy," he stated.
Those feelings are real. They further have a role in the
conversation. However, Carney's position highlights another aspect of the
broader global context.
Why Carney Said "It Makes Sense"
Speaking at a press briefing, Carney said that India is no
longer a country International forums are places you may ignore. "India is
the world's most populous country, the world's fifth-largest economy, and an
important partner on everything from climate to trade," he told us.
"It is not symbolic to have it at the table. It's a strategic move.
From vaccine production to digital infrastructure, India has
been a central force in defining the post-COVID world. It has further emerged
with a larger role in international affairs and, at times, when a bridge
between the West and the Global South.
Once a group of Western countries, the G7 is evolving.
Leaders are aware that they cannot address global issues in isolation.
Including voices like India's is important for practical solutions, not just
for visuals.
One of the key arguments Carney emphasized was that inviting
Modi does not suggest ignoring problems or compromising your morals. "The
probe into Nijjar's murder is still ongoing. "We are committed to pursuing
justice," Carney stated. " "But to turn our back on one of the
world's greatest countries benefits no one."
Diplomacy often includes engagement to be evidence of
maturity, not weakness. Persuasion, pressure, and—possibly most
importantly—progress are made possible by engagement.
Carney pointed out that negotiations with India about legal
cooperation and Silently, law enforcement has persisted. They are minor steps,
but important ones. And they perhaps would not be possible if the two sides
were to stop talking entirely.
The Global Reality Check
Canada is not isolated in finding value in India's
engagement. Other G7 countries—like the U.S., France, and Germany—have further
forged close relationships with New Delhi despite democracy and human rights
concerns.
India is more than just a partner for those countries. It is
further a counterweight to increasing authoritarian ambition in other regions
of the world. It is an important driver of a multipolar international order.
And in settings like the G7, India has a presence that is lacking—one that
represents the Global South.
In inviting India, Carney isn't forsaking Canadian values.
He's opting for a way where Disagreement may coexist with argument.
Guiding with Empathy and Clarity
It is easy to view foreign policy to be cold-blooded and
analytical. But true leadership requires empathy—empathizing with the suffering
of your people while further taking tough decisions for the well-being of all.
Carney seems to be trying to strike that equilibrium. His
public restatement of the probe into Nijjar's death, his outreach to Sikh
communities, and his willingness to speak about India's role all shows a
preference to go slowly, but to go ahead.
His approach poses an uncomfortable, but essential question:
Can we hold countries accountable and work with them on shared aims?
A Summit with Symbolism—and Stakes
When the G7 gathers in Alberta, optics will count. Camera
shots, handshakes, and words will be carefully monitored. But more important is
what goes on behind closed doors: can Canada and India start to re-establish
faith, even tentatively? Can the G7 serve not only to be a forum for
coalitions, but when a space for accountability?
The world isn't getting every easier. Climate issues,
economic disruptions, AI ethics—these need all hands on deck. Even if sometimes
that hand plays the wrong note.
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