PM Modi To Visit Canada For First Time After Diplomatic Tensions, Attend G7 Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Canada from June 16-17 where he will participate in the G7 Summit on the invitation of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. 

The Prime Minister will first visit Cyprus on June 15 which will be first such visit by an Indian PM to the Mediterranean nation in over two decades. He will hold talks with President Nikos Christodoulides and address business leaders in Limassol. 

"The visit will reaffirm the shared commitment of the two countries to deepen bilateral ties and strengthen India’s engagement with the Mediterranean region and the European Union," said the Ministry of External Affairs in a press release. 

In the second leg of his journey, he will reach Canada on June 16 and participate in the G-7 Summit marking his 6th consecutive presence at the global high table. 

At the Summit, Prime Minister will exchange views with leaders of G-7 countries, other invited outreach countries and Heads of International Organisations on crucial global issues, including energy security, technology and innovation, particularly the AI-energy nexus and Quantum-related issues, the MEA said. 

This will be Modi's first visit to the North American country after diplomatic ties turned sour between the two nations over the issue of Khalistan. Former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had alleged the role of "agents" of the Government of India in the killing of Khalistan sympathiser Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.

In the final leg of his three-nation visit, the PM will visit Croatia on June 18  which will be the first by an Indian prime minister to the European country. During the visit, Modi will hold bilateral discussions with Croatian PM Andrej Plenković and meet the President of Croatia Zoran Milanović. 

"The visit to Croatia will also underscore India's commitment to further strengthening its engagement with partners in the European Union," the ministry stated in the release. 

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