ONTARIO/NEW DELHI — External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will travel to Ontario on Wednesday to attend the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting with Outreach Partners, following an invitation from Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand.
During the visit, Jaishankar is expected to hold bilateral discussions on the sidelines of the meeting, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
“EAM’s participation in the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting reflects India’s continued commitment to working with international partners in addressing global challenges and bolstering the voice of the Global South in international fora,” the MEA said in a statement.
The G7 gathering is scheduled for November 11–12 in Niagara, Ontario. Canada, which assumed the G7 presidency on January 1, 2025, will host foreign ministers from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union. It will also welcome ministers from outreach countries, including India, Brazil, Australia, Saudi Arabia, Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, and Ukraine.
According to a statement from the Canadian government, the meetings will focus on economic and security priorities, including maritime security, energy security, supply chain resilience, and critical minerals.
Jaishankar’s visit follows Anand’s trip to New Delhi last month, where the two ministers agreed to revive and strengthen ties after a period of diplomatic strain. Their talks on October 13 emphasized the importance of restoring mechanisms for cooperation and outlined a new roadmap for the bilateral relationship, rooted in shared democratic values and respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The renewed diplomatic engagement has included recent high-level interactions. In June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, a meeting described by Indian officials as “positive and constructive.” Both sides have since appointed new High Commissioners: Christopher Cooter to New Delhi and Dinesh K. Patnaik to Ottawa.
Officials in both capitals have said the goal is to stabilize the relationship and rebuild trust, particularly against the backdrop of global economic uncertainty and shifting geopolitical alignments. (Source: IANS)
