Trudeau Sees ‘Opportunity’ in India Ties Post G7 Meeting
At the G7 Summit in Apulia, Italy, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a brief but significant interaction. This was their first face-to-face meeting since the controversial allegations made by Trudeau last year, accusing Indian agents of involvement in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Trudeau expressed optimism about re-engaging with India, highlighting the importance of economic and security cooperation. He pointed out the strong people-to-people connections and economic ties between the two countries. “With PM Modi’s recent election win, there is a chance for us to work together on various significant issues,” Trudeau said.
Despite last year’s tensions, Trudeau acknowledged that cooperation from India regarding the investigation into Nijjar’s murder is ongoing. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) continues to probe the incident, which had led to a diplomatic strain between the two nations. India has consistently denied the allegations, accusing Canada of providing a haven for pro-Khalistan elements.
PM Modi shared a photo on social media of their handshake at the summit, captioned simply, “Met Canadian PM Justin Trudeau at the G7 Summit,” indicating a move towards diplomatic engagement.
This meeting marks a potential turning point for India-Canada relations, suggesting a mutual interest in addressing economic and security challenges collaboratively.