Prime Minister Modi’s upcoming visit to Canada for the G7 summit—his first in a decade—carries significance that goes well beyond the formalities of international diplomacy.
Invited by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, this visit is both symbolic and strategic—marking Modi’s first participation in a major multilateral forum since the launch of Operation Sindoor, India’s audacious and widely discussed military response to cross-border terrorism emanating from nuclear-armed Pakistan, now seen by many as a vassal of China.
That alone lends gravity to the visit. For years, India’s military capability was a matter of speculation or restraint. Post-Sindoor, it’s a matter of record. India didn’t just signal strength—it demonstrated it. That shift hasn’t gone unnoticed by the world’s major powers.
Carney’s invitation, therefore, is not routine. It signals a deliberate reset. After years of strained ties under Justin Trudeau—largely the result of his government’s political flirtation with Khalistani separatists—Carney seems intent on course-correcting. That earlier indulgence of fringe extremism cost Canada dearly: not just in Delhi, but across key strategic circles in the Indo-Pacific.
Carney, to his credit, appears to grasp the stakes.
This reset shouldn’t be reduced to the still-unresolved Hardeep Singh Nijjar episode, even if some parts of the Canadian media remain fixated on it. Yes, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police made public insinuations about Indian involvement. But to date, no verifiable evidence has been placed on the record. In fact, parallel intelligence trail suggest that Nijjar’s death may have had more to do with local criminal rivalries than geopolitics.
That distinction mattered little to the Trudeau government, which chose to escalate the matter prematurely. But it didn’t go unnoticed by Canada’s allies.
When Ottawa went public in 2023 with its claims, Washington responded with caution. It acknowledged Canadian concerns, yes—but made it clear it wouldn’t let a single incident jeopardize the broader Indo-U.S. strategic partnership. In fact, the U.S. has only deepened its engagement with India since: in defense, tech, supply chains and intelligence cooperation.
The message was unmistakable: long-term interests cannot be derailed by momentary political drama.
The United Kingdom drew a similar line. One of Canada’s oldest allies, it pressed forward and signed a landmark free trade agreement with India—a deal that underlines just how central India has become to any competitive, future-focused economy. India is no longer just a growth story—it’s a demographic engine, a digital pioneer, and a stabilizing force in a turbulent Indo-Pacific.
This rise hasn’t been accidental—it’s been architected. Over the last ten years, the Modi government has redefined India’s global identity: blending domestic reforms with strategic clarity abroad. From economic revival and digital innovation to assertive diplomacy and military modernisation, India has moved with intent—and it shows.
That’s why India is now indispensable. And why forums like the G7 no longer see its presence as a courtesy—but as a privilege.
This transformation hasn’t happened in isolation. Today, India is the world’s fifth-largest economy, a key player in international rule-making, and a steady advocate for the Global South. It doesn’t merely participate in global conversations—it helps shape them.
And that evolution is strategic, not just economic.
Which brings us back to Carney’s outreach. India isn’t at the table to fill a seat—it’s there because its absence would leave the conversation incomplete. No serious global summit can afford to bypass a country that is home to one in six humans, that sits astride critical maritime routes, and that has the credibility to speak to both the developed world and emerging economies.
Of course, domestic politics will always tempt leaders to posture. It’s easy, electorally, to poke India for a soundbite or to appease a vocal minority. But as Canadian businesses are now realising, that comes with a price: lost trade, diplomatic chill, and fading relevance in a region that will define this century.
Modi’s visit is not about photo-ops. It is an opening—a chance for both nations to reimagine a relationship on more mature terms. Not one held hostage by sensationalism or fringe lobbying—but one rooted in mutual interest, realism and respect.
In choosing engagement over estrangement, Mark Carney is not capitulating. He is calibrating. And in doing so, he joins a wider consensus—shared in Washington, London, Tokyo, and Berlin—that a deeper, more balanced partnership with India isn’t just wise.