Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had a telephone call with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, reiterating Canada and India’s long-standing relations. This is the first high-level encounter between the two leaders since Carney took office in the early part of this year.
As per an official Canadian Prime Minister’s Office statement, the two heads of government talked about the long-standing bonds between the two countries, with a focus on robust people-to-people links and significant business partnerships. They also committed to ongoing dialogue among law enforcement agencies and engaging in discussions on shared security interests.
In a major diplomatic gesture, Prime Minister Carney made a formal invitation to PM Modi to join the 2025 G7 Leaders’ Summit, scheduled later this month in Kananaskis, Alberta. PM Modi, responding to the gesture, accepted through a social media message.
“Happy to take a call from Prime Minister @MarkJCarney of Canada. Congratulations to him on his election success and thanked him for extending an invitation to the G7 Summit. India and Canada will cooperate with new energy, with mutual respect and common interests as the guiding factors,” Modi posted on X.
Carney’s initiative is universally regarded as an attempt to mend and restart India-Canada relations, which worsened sharply during the tenure of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Relations strained after Trudeau’s provocative allegations against India on the issue of political meddling and involvement in criminal activity, such as sponsorship of the Khalistan movement allegations made without sharing any public evidence.
The previous government had also come under fire for poor safety of Indian diplomatic staff in the face of increasing danger from extremist forces.
Carney’s tenure presents a fresh diplomatic page, with his invitation of PM Modi indicating a willingness for positive engagement premised on mutual respect and common democratic ideals. Both leaders reaffirmed keeping in touch and looking forward to their next meeting at the G7 Summit.
