Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi may skip the upcoming G7 summit in Canada later this month for the first time in six years.

The decision is reportedly due to ongoing tensions between New Delhi and Ottawa, according to India Today, which reported on Monday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

Though India is not a G7 member, it has been invited to recent summits as a guest.

Mr Modi has attended the last five G7 gatherings, but sources say he is unlikely to participate in this year’s meeting, scheduled for June 15-17 in Canada.

The report also noted that India had not yet received an official invitation to the event.

Sources indicated that New Delhi had no current plans to attend, emphasising that bilateral relations needed to improve before such a high-level visit could take place.

Security concerns were also cited as a factor influencing Mr Modi’s potential absence.

Despite the diplomatic chill, Canadian foreign minister Anita Anand told The Globe and Mail on May 29 that Canada remains interested in strengthening ties with India.

Relations between the two countries have been strained since September 2023, when then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused the Modi government of involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

India strongly rejected the allegation, calling it “baseless”.

The diplomatic fallout led to both nations expelling several diplomats, and relations were currently downgraded, with no ambassadors in place in either country.

(RIA/NAN)