As the G7 Summit 2025 convened in Kananaskis Alberta, Canada, amidst tectonic geopolitical shifts and economic disquietude, the convergence of global leadership unfolded with an undercurrent of recalibration. While not a formal constituent of the Group of Seven, widely abbreviated as G7, India's distinguished participation, helmed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was noted.
At the heart of India’s foreign policy stance was the thawing of previously frosty relations with Canada, which had suffered a severe freeze following the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canada-based Khalistani separatist. The India-Canada diplomatic rupture, catalysed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations concerning India's involvement in extrajudicial operations, had prompted a near-total cessation of the Indo-Canadian ties.
The rapprochement was neither impulsive nor unconditional; it was grounded in international legal norms, particularly the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the principle of non-intervention in internal affairs enshrined in Article 2(7) of the UN Charter.
India’s participation was further marked by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s articulation of India’s zero-tolerance approach to terrorism. India’s strategic vision at the summit was uncompromising, particularly on the matter of cross-border terrorism, an issue that continues to be a central focus in New Delhi’s diplomatic agenda. In his intervention, Modi decried the way western powers use selective morals when addressing acts of terror. He called for a uniform global standard in identifying, classifying, and dismantling terrorism irrespective of ideological, religious, or geopolitical considerations.
The Indian Prime Minister also revived his appeal for the formalisation of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT), a juridical instrument long obstructed by geopolitical hesitancy. In confidential parleys with leaders such as President Emmanuel Macron of France and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni, Modi emphasised that the legal codification of terrorism must transcend ideological and regional biases. He asserted that no international regime can claim political and diplomatic legitimacy while harbouring terrorism.
An ancillary yet significant aspect of India’s participation at the G7 Summit was a direct telephonic exchange between Prime Minister Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump lauded Modi’s leadership and reaffirmed the Indo-American alliance in ensuring global stability, peace and order. Modi reiterated India’s vision of a "free, inclusive, and rules-based Indo-Pacific", subtly reinforcing New Delhi’s vigilance over China’s regional assertiveness.
On the matter of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India opted for neutrality. They did, however, condemn the ongoing violence and advocated for political dialogue, while continuing economic and defence alliances with Moscow.
Environmental and climate diplomacy also occupied a vector in India’s G7 agenda. Prime Minister Modi advocated the principle of climate equity, emphasising that developmental asymmetries must be addressed before mandating ambitious climate mitigation targets. While maintaining adherence to the Paris Agreement and the net-zero 2070 roadmap, India condemned the "green neo-colonialism" of the developed world. He advocated for a just energy transition, urging nations to shoulder responsibilities while facilitating green financing and technology transfers to countries in the Global South.
In a particularly resonant segment of his address, Modi highlighted India’s unique vision for digital sovereignty and technological democratisation. He promoted concepts like fintech pluralism, AI equity, and decentralised digital ecosystems. The Indian Prime Minister, showcasing India’s successful deployment of digital public goods such as Aadhaar, UPI, CoWIN, and ONDC, illustrated a model of digitisation that is inclusive, sovereign, and scalable.
Modi further proposed the creation of an intergovernmental consortium for an “open-source digital innovation,” arguing against the commodification of data and technology by a handful of corporate conglomerates. His vision gained support from delegations across Latin America, Africa, and ASEAN, many of whom identified India as a viable counter-model to Silicon Valley’s extractive digital capitalism.
The G7 Canada Summit 2025 must be understood not merely as an elite conclave of industrialised economies but as a crucible for the emerging world order. In this evolving global structure, India asserted itself not as an adjunct participant but as a fellow flagbearer of tomorrow’s world.
Dhanishtha De is a trainee journalist at Cult Current. The views expressed in the article are
her ownand do not necessarily reflect the official stance of Cult Current