Modi not invited to G7 Summit in Canada for first time in six years

India has not received an invitation to the upcoming G7 Summit set to be held in Canada from June 15 to 17, marking the first time in six years that the country will not be participating in the high-level gathering.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has attended the summit since 2019, making this the first time India will be absent from the event. 

There have been no advance visits or preparations for a high-level visit to Canada, Indian media reported, quoting officials.

As the host, Canada holds the prerogative to determine the guest list and shape the summit’s agenda and tone based on its foreign policy priorities.

The development comes at a time of diplomatic friction between New Delhi and Ottawa, following the assassination of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in June 2023.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian agents of involvement, an allegation New Delhi strongly rejected as “baseless.”

The G7 is an informal bloc of major industrialised nations, the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and Canada,  with the European Union also participating. Global institutions such as the United Nations, IMF, and World Bank are typically invited as observers.

Last month, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated there was “no information” about the prime minister’s travel plans to attend the G7 in Canada.