Kananaskis, Alberta (Rajeev Sharma): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has arrived in Calgary, Canada, to attend the 51st G7 Summit, with the Israel-Iran conflict casting a long shadow over the high-level diplomatic gathering. The visit marks the second leg of his ongoing three-nation tour, which began in Cyprus and will conclude in Croatia.
Prior to his arrival in Canada, PM Modi held wide-ranging discussions with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. Describing the visit as “memorable,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) shared on X (formerly Twitter) that the Prime Minister was deeply appreciative of the hospitality extended by Cyprus, and thanked President Christodoulides and the Cypriot people for their “exceptional warmth.”
“Heading to Canada for the G7 Summit,” read another MEA post, confirming PM Modi’s transition to the summit in Kananaskis, Alberta.
The G7 Summit is taking place against the backdrop of major global flashpoints, including the intensifying conflict between Israel and Iran, as well as the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is also participating in the summit as a special guest.
This is PM Modi’s first multilateral engagement since Operation Sindoor—India’s precision strike on terror camps in Pakistan following the Pahalgam attack in April. During his stay in Canada, he is expected to engage in bilateral talks with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and leaders from other G7 and invited nations.
Interestingly, PM Modi’s arrival in Canada comes at a time when former U.S. President Donald Trump, also present at the summit, had to abruptly cut short his participation to return to Washington for a National Security Council meeting concerning the Israel-Iran crisis.
The G7 Outreach Summit, scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, will focus on three major themes: safeguarding communities globally, enhancing energy security and accelerating the digital transition, and forging future partnerships.
In addition to India and Ukraine, leaders from Australia, Brazil, South Korea, South Africa, and Mexico have been invited to join the summit’s outreach sessions.
Following the conclusion of his engagements in Canada, PM Modi is set to travel to Zagreb, Croatia, on Tuesday evening, wrapping up the final leg of his international diplomatic tour.
