India Joins G7 Summit Outreach as Economy and Ambitions Grow

Recently, the Group of Seven Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada afforded the leaders of the G7 countries an opportunity to seek common ground on a host of challenges facing these countries and the world as a whole. In some ways, the summit was overshadowed by the early departure of United States President Donald Trump. However, it afforded the other world leaders an opportunity to discuss threadbare the important issues plaguing the world.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also invited to the Summit for the G7 Outreach Session. This invitation clearly underscored the reset in India's ties with the host nation, Canada. Diplomacy between the two countries had been in a free-fall during the term of Canada's previous prime minister, Justin Trudeau. Their ties had almost broken down in light of claims from the Canadian side about Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani extremist, Hardeep Singh Nijjar. His death occurred in British Columbia, Canada, in 2023. Meanwhile, the Indian side has expressed strong reservations about Canada harboring anti-India elements on its soil.

Since 2019, India's prime minister has been invited to every G7 summit. Those invitations were in keeping with India's growing stature on the international stage.

India is now officially the fourth biggest economy in the world, after the US, China, and Germany. At the same time, it has remained one of the fastest-growing major economies in the world. In fact, India has close ties with most of the G7 countries, including Japan.

India is also the most populous country in the world. As such, it represents a huge market for businesses in the developed nations. This opportunity is something that the developed countries cannot ignore.

*G7 leaders (left) listen to outreach countries as PM Modi speaks. (©G7 Canada media files)*

Overcoming Distances with Friends and Counterparts

During his address at the G7 Summit, PM Modi outlined some of the major issues facing the countries of the Global South. This particular visit also afforded him an opportunity to discuss pertinent global issues with his counterparts from the G7 countries and other world leaders invited to the outreach sessions.

However, the most important takeaway from the Kananaskis G7 Summit was the meeting between the Indian Prime Minister and his Canadian counterpart, Ma r k Carney. The two leaders agreed to reboot the ties between their countries. They also agreed on the return of high commissioners to each other's capital cities and the resumption of bilateral negotiations, which had been stalled. As well, they agreed to resume talks on a comprehensive economic cooperation agreement.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Prime Minister Modi met on the sidelines. In a tweet, the Indian PM noted the "insightful deliberations with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba during the G7 Summit in Canada." He also stated that "India and Japan remain committed to further deepening bilateral ties across various sectors."

PM Modi met his G7 outreach partner counterparts as well. In 2025, those included the leaders of South Korea, Australia, Mexico, South Africa, Brazil, and Germany.

India's stance on terrorism was a key point emphasized in PM Modi's address. He illustrated his point, saying: "There must be no place for double standards when it comes to terrorism. Recently, India faced a brutal and cowardly terrorist attack. The terrorist attack that took place on April 22 was not just an assault on Pahalgam, but a direct attack on the soul, identity, and dignity of every Indian. It was an assault on all humanity."

*Prime Minister Modi meets the President of Mexico on the side of the G7 summit. (©Prime Minister's Office)*

Missed Opportunity

While overall the meeting offered important opportunities. However, with President Trump's early return to Washington, PM Modi missed a chance for a face-to-face meeting with the US President.

At the same time, it should be noted that ties between the two countries have moved in a different direction since Modi visited the US early in 2025. India has not been too happy with the American stance during the recent India-Pakistan clashes and afterwards.

Japan and the G7

PM Ishiba's visit to the G7 Summit also afforded him his first in-person talks with the new South Korean President Lee Jae-myung. They reported that the two leaders agreed to promote the "stable development" of ties. This is an early and positive signal of how the ties might develop under a new dispensation in Seoul.

During the run-up to the elections in South Korea, it was believed that the new President could reverse some of the decisions of his predecessor. However, early signs suggest that it may not be the case. That is good news for the Japanese economy. Both are reeling from tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Already, 24% tariffs have been slapped on Japan, although they are currently paused, despite Tokyo being one of America's closest allies.

The Road Ahead

Notably, the G7 Summit communiqué did not call for a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. This, in itself, shows that when it comes to pressing global issues, the G7 countries are themselves divided. At the same time, the G7 remains the most powerful body in the world. It still has the power to come up with solutions to the problems that plague the world as a whole.

In the future, India would like to become an even more important part of the G7 outreach partners. This seems natural, given India's growing economic prowess and military heft, and its huge young population. After all, as they say, demography is destiny.

Author: Dr Rupakjyoti Borah

Dr Rupakjyoti Borah is a Senior Research Fellow with the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies. The views expressed here are personal.

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