Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to Kananaskis, Alberta, Canada, this month to take part in the 2025 G7 Summit, set to take place from June 15 to 17. While India is not a formal member of the G7 bloc, Modi’s presence at the summit signifies the growing recognition of India’s global leadership and its rising influence in shaping international policy conversations.
The G7 Summit, an annual meeting of leaders from seven of the world’s most advanced economies—Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan—along with the European Union, will this year focus on urgent global priorities including climate change, artificial intelligence, economic resilience, and international security. India’s invitation signals the G7’s intent to engage with emerging powers and expand the conversation beyond traditional Western frameworks.
Modi was formally invited by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who is hosting his first G7 summit since taking office in 2024. Carney’s choice to invite India reflects Ottawa’s interest in strengthening ties with Asia’s largest democracy, as well as an acknowledgment that global governance now requires input from nations representing a broader demographic and economic spectrum.
“India brings unique insights, especially on inclusive development and technological innovation,” Carney said during a pre-summit media briefing. “As the world faces complex, overlapping crises, countries like India must be at the table.”
Modi is expected to focus his message on India’s global vision—emphasizing collaboration over confrontation, digital innovation for public good, and a just energy transition. He will also represent the aspirations of the Global South, advocating for greater equity in climate finance, trade access, and multilateral reforms.
Over the past few years, India has consistently advocated for reforms in global institutions such as the United Nations, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and World Trade Organization (WTO). Modi is likely to reiterate these calls in Kananaskis, urging the G7 to embrace a more inclusive and representative world order.
“The Prime Minister will use the summit to highlight India’s leadership in sustainable development and digital transformation,” said Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra. “He will also emphasize the need to bridge the North-South divide and ensure a fairer global system.”
Kananaskis, a remote mountainous region surrounded by the Canadian Rockies, last hosted a similar summit in 2002. Its selection this year reflects a desire for discreet, high-level engagement far from urban distractions. Security preparations are already underway, with tight control over access to the region.
As the summit approaches, anticipation is growing around several planned bilateral meetings. Modi is expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, among others. These meetings are likely to focus on key issues such as supply chain resilience, defense partnerships, Indo-Pacific security, and digital cooperation.
India’s presence at this year’s summit also takes on special significance in the context of its recent hosting of the 2023 G20 Summit in New Delhi, which was widely praised for highlighting the interests of developing nations and promoting inclusive multilateralism. Modi’s G7 participation is thus seen as an extension of India’s efforts to forge consensus among diverse global actors.
Experts believe that Modi’s presence will help shape the tone of the summit, particularly on issues related to development and digital equity. “India represents a massive population that straddles innovation and inequality,” said Professor Arvind Patil, a foreign policy analyst. “Its voice carries weight when it comes to bridging the global digital divide.”
The 2025 G7 Summit will also be notable for featuring a number of new faces among its members. This will be the first G7 summit for leaders like Canada’s Mark Carney, Britain’s Keir Starmer, and Japan’s Shigeru Ishiba. With shifting leadership dynamics, India’s experience in global negotiations could offer a stabilizing influence and encourage continuity in cross-national agendas.
Environmental issues are expected to dominate discussions. India, one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, has made significant progress in renewable energy adoption and aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2070. Modi is expected to highlight initiatives such as the International Solar Alliance and India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission as examples of proactive climate action.
India’s leadership on digital public infrastructure (DPI) will also be a key topic. Modi may offer insights into India’s success in using technology for financial inclusion, healthcare access, and governance transparency—systems that G7 countries are increasingly examining for adaptation and replication.
As global institutions face declining public trust and shifting power balances, the 2025 G7 Summit in Kananaskis is being seen as a litmus test for the ability of democracies to cooperate beyond ideological boundaries. India’s engagement at the summit is expected to be constructive, solution-oriented, and representative of broader global interests.
With just days remaining before the leaders gather, the world will be watching closely. As Prime Minister Modi prepares to speak on behalf of 1.4 billion citizens, his message is likely to resonate far beyond the borders of India—and potentially redefine the way global governance platforms approach inclusion and collaboration in the years ahead.
