Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is emphasizing “shared interests” with India as he defends his decision to invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 summit. This approach aims to highlight areas of cooperation despite the lingering diplomatic tensions surrounding the Hardeep Singh Nijjar murder investigation.
Carney, when questioned by the media, refused to comment on whether he believed Modi had a role in Nijjar’s murder. He firmly stated that an ongoing and “quite advanced” legal process in Canada made it inappropriate to make such remarks. Four Indian nationals have been charged in connection with the killing, a case that has already severely strained Canada-India relations, leading to mutual diplomatic expulsions.
The G7 summit, scheduled for June 15-17 in Kananaskis, Alberta, is a significant international forum. Carney justified Modi’s invitation by emphasizing India’s global economic and demographic importance, describing it as the “fifth largest economy in the world” and the “most populous country,” and central to global supply chains. He argued that Modi’s presence is crucial for discussions on energy, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals.
Modi, in a statement, echoed this sentiment, stating that India and Canada, “as vibrant democracies bound by deep people-to-people ties,” will work together “with renewed vigour, guided by mutual respect and shared interests.” This shared language on cooperation suggests a mutual desire to find common ground at the summit, despite the underlying friction.
