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PM Narendra Modi travels to Kananaskis, Alberta, for the 51st G7 conference

Calgary: After a period of tense diplomatic relations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to Calgary on Tuesday to attend the 51st G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. This was a momentous occasion for India-Canada relations.

Pm narendra modi
Pm narendra modi

Following a period of hostility between New Delhi and Ottawa brought on by Canadian claims that Indian operatives were engaged in the 2023 murder of NIA-designated terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a gurdwara in Canada, PM Modi is visiting Canada.

India has vehemently denied the accusations. In a tit-for-tat reaction, both nations dismissed top diplomats, further intensifying the diplomatic impasse. New Delhi has often expressed alarm about anti-Indian sentiment and extremism on Canadian territory and called on Canadian leaders to take decisive action to stop these forces.
This follows a social media statement by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on US President Donald Trump’s intention to shorten his stay at the summit in Kananaskis, Canada.

“President Trump signed a significant trade agreement with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and the United Kingdom during his fantastic day at the G7. A lot was done, but President Trump will be departing tonight after dinner with heads of state due to the situation in the Middle East,” Leavitt wrote on X.

PM Modi’s formal three-nation trip, which started in Cyprus and will end in Croatia, includes this visit.
Prior to leaving for Canada, Prime Minister Modi concluded his visit to Cyprus. PM Modi’s first visit to Cyprus and the first by any Indian Prime Minister in more than 20 years, MEA Secretary (West) Tanmay Lal said in his comprehensive comments at the end of the tour.

“This landmark visit highlights the enduring friendship and trusted partnership between our two countries,” Lal said.

In his remarks to the media, Prime Minister Modi emphasized the strategic importance of India-Cyprus ties. “Our partnership also assumes importance in the larger context of the India-EU strategic partnership and India’s growing engagement with the Mediterranean region,” he said.

PM Modi received the Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III, Cyprus’ highest honor bestowed on foreign leaders of state, from President Nikos Christodoulides.

Leaders spoke on people-to-people exchanges, commerce and investment, fintech, marine shipping, the IMEC connectivity effort, mobility, and defense cooperation.

Lal pointed out that there were important global issues at the time of the talks. Prime Minister Modi expressed gratitude for Cyprus’s unwavering assistance in India’s war against transnational terrorism. Both leaders examined the India-EU strategic cooperation, including the current India-EU free trade agreement discussions, as Cyprus is expected to take over as the Council of the European Union’s president in the first half of next year.

Lal recalled the long history of the two countries’ ties, saying, “India had pushed for Cyprus’ independence in the 1950s.” The two nations later collaborated in the Commonwealth and the Non-Aligned Movement. At the UN and other global forums, both countries have continuously stood for one another.

“Cyprus supports India for permanent membership in a reformed and expanded UN Security Council, and India supports Cyprus on the Cyprus issue,” he said.

The Indian External Affairs Minister and the Cyprus Foreign Minister have maintained constant contact after the Pahalgam terror assault.

Lal emphasized the geopolitical significance of Cyprus, saying, “With its strategic location, Cyprus can act as a gateway to Europe and the Mediterranean.”

“To sum up, this historic visit of Prime Minister Modi to Cyprus has provided stimulus and a strategic direction to the partnership between our two countries as important and trusted partners,” Lal said.

Every year, leaders from the US, UK, France, Germany, Japan, Italy, Canada, and the EU get together for the G7 Summit, which PM Modi is scheduled to attend on June 16–17. PM Modi is attending the G7 Summit for the sixth time in a row.

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