• Indian PM Modi has been invited to attend the G7 summit in Canada from June 15-17.
• This invitation comes amid strained diplomatic relations between India and Canada over recent allegations.
• Modi expressed hopes for improved ties and a commitment to mutual interests.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced he would attend the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, from June 15 to 17, after receiving an invitation from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Modi expressed gratitude for the invitation, stating, “Glad to receive a call from Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada... look forward to our meeting at the summit,” according to trtglobal and scmp.

This invitation marks a significant diplomatic step as relations between India and Canada have been tense since allegations surfaced regarding India's involvement in the assassination of Canadian Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023. The two nations expelled each other's top diplomats following these accusations, which India vehemently denies, branding them “absurd” and “motivated,” according to latimes and reuters.

Modi's attendance is seen as an indication of a thaw in Canada-India relations, which had deteriorated under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's administration. Carney’s invitation is viewed as an acknowledgment of India’s strategic significance, with Canada recognizing its status as the fifth-largest economy globally. He noted, “India is central to supply chains,” according to newsweek and bbc.

Despite the potential for improved relations, Canadian Sikh organizations have responded with apprehension, citing Modi's invitation as a betrayal of community values. The World Sikh Organization expressed their concern, seeing the invitation as dismissive of the ongoing legal matters related to Nijjar's assassination, according to dawn and bbc.