'canada Doesn't Own G7': Ex-diplomat Says Ottawa Paying A Higher Price For Collapse Of Its Ties With India

Former Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal has pushed backmost against nan conception that Canada tin dictate India’s beingness astatine nan upcoming G7 summit, calling for position connected Ottawa’s domiciled wrong nan grouping. “Should beryllium understood that Canada does not ain nan G7, it is only 1 of nan members. It can’t easy unilaterally dilute nan G7’s outreach schedule by not inviting a state for illustration India which has been invited to G7 summits successful erstwhile years,” Sibal wrote.

His remarks travel amid signs of a thaw successful India-Canada ties, pinch Prime Minister Narendra Modi confirming his attendance astatine nan G7 acme successful Alberta from June 15–17 aft receiving an invitation from recently elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The invitation, extended during their first telephone call, marks a cardinal measurement successful restoring negotiated engagement aft a twelvemonth of strained relations complete nan sidesplitting of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

Sibal noted that Carney’s move reflects broader geopolitical realities and home pressures. “Canada has to consult different members each of whom are expanding their ties pinch India. With shifts successful powerfulness eastwards nan G7 has mislaid centrality and needs to scope retired to cardinal rising economies to stay relevant. The G20 was nan result. India successful its ain correct and arsenic a leader of nan Global South matters,” he said.

Canada’s ties pinch India deed a historical debased nether erstwhile Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pursuing his nationalist allegation successful 2023 of a imaginable Indian domiciled successful Nijjar’s killing. The fallout included tit-for-tat negotiated expulsions and a frost successful bilateral dialogue. India accused Trudeau’s authorities of enabling extremist and secessionist activity connected Canadian soil.

Since Carney’s predetermination successful April, some sides person begun cautiously rebuilding links. Security officials resumed dialogue, and discussions are underway to name caller precocious commissioners. Modi acknowledged this shift, saying, “As vibrant democracies bound by heavy people-to-people ties, India and Canada will activity together pinch renewed vigour, guided by communal respect and shared interests.”

Sibal besides underscored Canada's ain vulnerabilities wrong nan alliance. “In summation to larger geopolitical factors Canada is paying a higher value for nan virtual illness of its ties pinch India than nan contrary is nan case,” he said. “Canada has besides travel nether humiliating unit from nan US nether Trump. It needs to found different partnerships to person much room for manoeuvre.”

He added that soul divisions wrong nan G7 person widened successful caller years. “Trump’s highly disruptive policies person successful summation wrecked nan soul cohesion of nan G7,” he wrote, noting nan bloc’s increasing request to prosecute cardinal non-member economies for illustration India.

Sibal besides pointed to challenges up for Carney. “Canadian PM Carney has chosen to personally induce Modi to make judge he accepts nan invitation. Now let’s spot really he handles nan inevitable demonstrations by nan Canadian Sikh extremists who will spot successful this invitation a situation to their vicious agenda.”

Published on: Jun 8, 2025 8:42 AM IST