India’s Absence from G7: A Historic Diplomatic Break
INVC NEWS
New Delhi — : The Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not attend the 2025 G7 Summit, marking the first time in six years that the Indian leader will skip this high-profile global event. The summit, scheduled to take place from June 15 to June 17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, is attracting global attention not just for the issues to be discussed, but also for the notable absence of India. The question reverberating across diplomatic circles and global media is clear: Is Canada the reason behind this change?
Looming Tensions: India-Canada Diplomatic Standoff
The strained relationship between India and Canada has been a growing concern since 2023. Under the leadership of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Canada accused India of orchestrating the assassination of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. Despite lacking concrete evidence, the accusation led to a significant diplomatic rift. India strongly denied any involvement, labeling the allegations as politically motivated and irresponsible.
The result? A steady deterioration in bilateral trust, with both countries recalling diplomats, suspending trade talks, and engaging in verbal warfare on international platforms. Now, with Mark Carney’s new government taking the reins in Ottawa, expectations for a reset remain low amid India’s persistent concerns about the safety of its leader in Canadian territory.
India Left Waiting: No G7 Invite Yet
Traditionally, G7 host nations extend invitations to key global players beyond the core member states. While South Africa, Ukraine, Australia, and Brazil have reportedly received formal invitations to the 2025 summit, India has not. A spokesperson from the Canadian G7 team declined to confirm whether an invitation would be sent to India, fueling speculation that political tensions are influencing guest list decisions.
According to high-level sources in New Delhi, even if an invitation were to arrive, India is highly unlikely to accept due to:
Ongoing security concerns related to Khalistani separatists.
Lack of actionable assurance from Canadian authorities.
Canada’s continued silence on anti-India extremism activities within its borders.
The Khalistan Factor: A Sticking Point
Khalistani separatist activity remains the most contentious issue between India and Canada. The Indian government has repeatedly urged Canadian authorities to take a stronger stance against Khalistani propaganda, extremist funding, and open threats to Indian officials operating within Canadian territory. Despite this, New Delhi perceives Ottawa’s response as tepid at best.
The murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, declared a terrorist by India, escalated the issue to an international crisis. Canada’s failure to offer concrete evidence to support its allegations only deepened the trust deficit. With PM Modi’s security and national honor at stake, attending a summit in Canada without visible progress on this issue is seen as politically untenable.
Canada’s G7 Leadership Under Scrutiny
Canada’s leadership of this year’s G7 summit has attracted mixed reviews, with critics pointing out the lack of inclusivity in its diplomatic approach. The absence of India — the world’s most populous democracy and fifth-largest economy — raises questions about the summit’s global representativeness.
Moreover, with key players like Russia already excluded, and China never part of the G7 structure, leaving India out undermines the group’s credibility as a truly global forum addressing 21st-century challenges. From economic resilience to climate change and artificial intelligence governance, India’s voice is crucial in shaping global norms.
Diplomatic Realignments: India Looks Elsewhere
In response to Western diplomatic hostility, India has been intensifying its engagement with other multilateral platforms such as:
BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa)
SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization)
Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue with the US, Japan, and Australia)
Global South Summits
These groupings allow India to assert its global vision without the baggage of Western political biases, particularly those that India believes stem from colonial-era attitudes and domestic vote bank politics in countries like Canada.
What Lies Ahead: Can India-Canada Relations Be Salvaged?
The ascension of Mark Carney, a former central banker with international experience, to the office of Prime Minister was initially seen as an opportunity to repair frayed ties with India. However, his administration has not yet signaled a concrete shift in foreign policy toward New Delhi.
Key areas where diplomatic efforts could lead to détente include:
Joint counterterrorism protocols addressing transnational separatism.
High-level backchannel communications to restore trust.
Bilateral dialogues on trade, education, and diaspora rights.
Revival of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations, which were halted amid rising tensions.
Still, without substantive action from Canada, New Delhi remains cautious, and PM Modi’s G7 no-show is perhaps the clearest indication yet of India’s disapproval of Ottawa’s diplomatic posture.
Global Implications of Modi’s G7 Absence
India’s non-participation at the G7 will reverberate globally. Here’s why this absence matters:
Missed opportunity for coordination on climate and clean energy transitions.
Reduced dialogue on AI, cybersecurity, and Indo-Pacific maritime security.
Weakened coalition against China’s expansionist policies.
Diminished momentum for global economic reform proposals championed by India at G20 and BRICS.
The signal is unmistakable: India will not bend under pressure nor compromise its national interests for symbolic participation. It expects mutual respect and equal footing on international platforms.
