New Delhi: With global leaders preparing to gather in the Canadian Rockies for the 2025 G7 Summit, all eyes are on India’s absence from the list of confirmed invitees. Amid strained Indo-Canada relations and growing speculation over diplomatic priorities, it appears unlikely that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be making the trip this year.
But, what is the G7 Summit and who are its members?
The G7, short for Group of Seven, is a forum of the world’s seven most advanced and industrialised liberal democracies:
The United States
United Kingdom
France
Germany
Italy
Japan
Canada
The European Union also takes part, although not as a counted member. Together, the G7 nations account for nearly half the world’s net wealth and over 44% of global nominal GDP as of 2024.
Formed in the 1970s in response to economic shocks such as the oil crisis, the group was originally centred around coordinating macroeconomic policy. Over time, however, its agenda has expanded significantly, now encompassing issues such as climate change, artificial intelligence, global health, food security, geopolitical crises, and supply chain resilience. The summit serves as a high-level platform for policy alignment among the world’s most influential economies.
While Russia briefly joined the group, forming the G8 in the late 1990s, its membership was suspended in 2014 following the annexation of Crimea. The G7 has since returned to its original configuration.
Why India might miss out in 2025
India, though not a permanent member of the G7, has frequently been invited as a guest, especially in recent years, owing to its growing economic influence and strategic importance in the Indo-Pacific region. Since 2019, PM Modi has attended four successive summits. Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also participated in five editions when Russia was still part of the bloc.
However, this year’s summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, seems to be taking a different turn. With just days to go, no public confirmation has been made regarding India’s inclusion in the outreach segment. In contrast, leaders from countries like Australia, Brazil, Mexico, and South Africa have already received and acknowledged their invitations.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office has remained tight-lipped. According to The Hindu, diplomatic sources in Canada cited strategic considerations behind the selection of external invitees Brazil and South Africa as current chairs of COP and G20 respectively, and Mexico and Australia as key Western allies.
Strained relations between India and Canada
The 2023 diplomatic row over the killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, whom India labelled a Khalistani terrorist, has left relations deeply strained with Canada. Both countries downgraded diplomatic presence, and neither currently has an ambassador posted.
Political opposition in India has seized on the situation. Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh called the silence surrounding the invitation a "big diplomatic bungle". The absence, he argued, diminishes India’s global standing at a critical time.
Logistical hurdles, like limited accommodation and Canada’s plan to livestream protests, including potential pro-Khalistani demonstrations, raise security and optics concerns for India.
Even if an invite were to be extended in the eleventh hour, analysts believe India may decline.
