India is the 5th largest economy, so it makes sense: Canada's Mark Carney backs PM Modi's G7 invite despite tensions

Economic Times

4 hours ago

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has defended his decision to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 Summit, stating it "made sense" given India's economic stature and global role. Despite ongoing tensions over the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Carney stressed that diplomacy is necessary for advancing national interests. The move sparked criticism from Sikh groups, but Carney underscored India's strategic value and noted progress in law enforcement dialogue between the two countries.
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Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has firmly defended his invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the upcoming G7 Summit in Kananaskis , Alberta, from 15–17 June. Carney said India's presence is essential for discussions on global priorities such as energy security, critical minerals, and infrastructure partnerships.'India is the fifth largest economy in the world, effectively the most populous country in the world, central to a number of those supply chains at the heart of a number of those supply chains, so it makes sense,' Carney said in a media interaction on Friday.The G7 Summit will focus on pressing international concerns including artificial intelligence, climate action, digital development, and cooperation with emerging economies.Vina Nadjibulla, Vice President of the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, added that the decision to include India wasn't solely Canada's.'In terms of the G7, we are the outlier because the other six members of the G7 are interested in deepening their strategic partnerships with India, deepening their defence technology and economic ties. In fact, every day there is a new announcement about either France or UK or US doing more with India,' she told CBC News Network.She continued, 'So having India there also matters to everybody else. I think there was a strong push from other G6 to have India at the table. And I think in order for Canada also to be able to show relevance on the world stage, we can't just engage in diplomacy with those whom we like. I mean, this is not… diplomacy is not a gift to our friends. It's not a concession. It's a necessary tool to be able to advance our interests and defend our values, right?'Prime Minister Modi accepted the invitation, expressing appreciation in a post on X. 'Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister Mark J Carney of Canada. Congratulated him on his recent election victory and thanked him for the invitation to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis later this month. 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.'This invitation comes at a time when India–Canada ties remain deeply strained. Tensions escalated after the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar , a Canadian citizen and vocal pro-Khalistan activist, outside a gurdwara in Vancouver.Canadian authorities accused Indian agents of involvement, a charge India categorically denied. The result was a diplomatic standoff, with both countries expelling senior envoys in a tit-for-tat move.When asked whether he believed PM Modi was linked to Nijjar's murder, Carney declined to speculate. 'There is a legal process that is literally underway and quite advanced in Canada… It's never appropriate to make comments with respect to those legal processes,' he said.Four Indian nationals have been arrested and charged in connection with the murder, and investigations continue.The World Sikh Organization has criticised the decision to invite Modi. Its president, Dinesh Singh, told The Guardian, 'This is a betrayal, not just of our community, but core Canadian values.'These reactions underscore a larger discontent among Sikh Canadians who have accused Ottawa of ignoring community concerns in favour of geopolitical strategy.Despite the rift, Carney said there had been some improvement in bilateral cooperation. 'In addition, bilaterally we have now agreed importantly to continued law enforcement to law enforcement dialogue so there's been some progress on that recognises issues of accountability. I extended the invitation to Prime Minister Modi in that context and he has accepted.'Carney also noted that inviting India to such global platforms helps Canada maintain relevance internationally.India isn't the only non-G7 country invited to this year's summit. Canada has also extended invitations to:South African President Cyril RamaphosaAustralian Prime Minister Anthony AlbaneseUkrainian President Volodymyr ZelenskyMexican President Claudia Sheinbaum (pending confirmation)For Carney and his G7 counterparts, engaging with India appears to be a strategic necessity, regardless of domestic backlash. As the summit approaches, New Delhi's role in global supply chains and economic governance seems to outweigh diplomatic discomfort.Whether this G7 appearance eases bilateral tensions or deepens divisions at home remains to be seen. But for now, both sides appear to have chosen pragmatism over grievance.