Canada Hosts G7 Summit, Expands Defense Spending, Invites India to Outreach

The 2025 G7 Summit in Canada highlights a shifting global dynamic where Canada, under Prime Minister Mark Carney, seeks to assert leadership independent of the United States amid deteriorating US-Canada relations. India’s growing role as an invited outreach partner at the summit reflects its rising global influence and strategic importance, especially as a representative voice for the Global South and a key player in Indo-Pacific security issues. Experts like Professor John Kirton advocate for India’s full inclusion in the G7 to better reflect current global economic and democratic realities, emphasizing India’s resilience and critical capabilities. Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar underlined India’s role as a diplomatic bridge, aiming to ease tensions among global powers amidst ongoing conflicts and geopolitical rivalries, including challenges posed by China and Russia. India’s participation provides it a platform to engage with leading economies on climate justice, inclusive growth, and technology democratization, while strengthening strategic partnerships with like-minded democracies. However, India must balance its diplomatic engagements carefully to convert its growing involvement into long-term strategic gains amid complex global power shifts and conflicts.