Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is walking a diplomatic tightrope, inviting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 summit despite serious allegations linking the Indian government to the murder of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. The decision reflects a complex balancing act between geopolitical interests and domestic calls for justice.
Carney, facing press scrutiny, artfully dodged questions about his personal views on Modi’s potential involvement in Nijjar’s assassination. He firmly stated that commenting on an active and “quite advanced” legal process in Canada would be inappropriate, given that four Indian nationals have already been charged in the case. This legal development has already caused significant diplomatic friction between Canada and India.
The G7 summit, scheduled from June 15 to 17 in Alberta, is a key international forum. Carney justified Modi’s invitation by underscoring India’s global economic and demographic clout, calling it “central to supply chains.” He maintained that Modi’s presence is essential for high-level discussions on energy, artificial intelligence, and critical minerals, topics critical to global stability.
This move aligns with Carney’s new government’s broader objective of de-escalating international tensions. Recent engagements include a call with Chinese Premier Li Qiang to regularize communication and ongoing talks with US President Donald Trump to resolve trade disputes. However, the World Sikh Organization has vociferously condemned the invite, arguing it compromises Canadian values by seemingly overlooking grave allegations.