Basics of Diplomacy

It is unfortunate that India has finally got an invitation to attend the G7 summit in Alberta, Canada, to be held from 15 June to 17 June only out of geopolitical-economic compulsions rather than as a gesture of honour.

- 

There was suspense and uncertainty that Canada, being the host, might not invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi at all due to the bitterness created between the two countries in recent times following former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegation that India had orchestrated the killing of Khalistani leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. The new PM of Canada, Mark Carney, phoned Modi when time was running out and extended him the late invitation. For this Carney faced fierce criticism in his own country and what he said in defence of his decision does not do much honour to India. Responding to reporters' questions, he said because India is the fifth largest economy in the world, the most populous country in the world and central to supply chains, it was important to invite the country’s leader to discuss energy, artificial intelligence and critical minerals despite the continuing investigation into Nijar’s murder. “I extended the invitation to Prime Minister Modi in that context,” he said condescendingly. Carney declined to answer reporters’ questions on whether he believed Modi had a role in the assassination of Nijjar that shattered relations between the two countries.