India’s participation in the 2025 G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, was more than ceremonial; it was emblematic of the country’s evolving foreign policy posture—assertive, strategic, and increasingly self-confident on the global stage. As a recurrent invitee to the summit of the world’s most advanced economies, India is not merely a guest at the high table—it is rapidly emerging as a necessary voice in shaping the norms of global governance.
At a time when the liberal international order is under stress—from Russia’s continued war in Ukraine to escalating tensions in West Asia and the fracturing of multilateral consensus—India’s engagement in the G7 reflects its aspiration to operate as a “norm entrepreneur” and as a bridge between the structurally advantaged North and the developmentally burdened South.
Recasting India’s Strategic Grammar
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s presence at the summit occurred under complex diplomatic conditions, including strained bilateral ties with host nation Canada and a recent spate of terrorist violence in Kashmir. Yet, rather than retreat from this moment, India leaned into it—advancing a foreign policy agenda that is deliberately autonomous and post-nonaligned.
This is not merely tactical balancing; it is an effort to recast the normative grammar of India’s international identity. India’s articulation of itself as a “Vishwa Mitra” (universal friend), its commitment to climate equity through Mission LiFE, and its promotion of ethical AI governance are all markers of a country that seeks to redefine global partnerships beyond Cold War binaries.
Advocacy for Global South: Symbolism or Substance?
India’s repeated invocation of the Global South must be read both symbolically and structurally. Symbolically, it positions India as the inheritor of Nehruvian solidarity; structurally, it seeks to carve out space in decision-making arenas that have historically excluded the majority world. India’s G20 presidency, which culminated in the inclusion of the African Union as a permanent member, was a watershed moment in this regard.
Yet, there is a gap between aspiration and institutional reform. While India rightly challenges the democratic deficit of bodies like the UN Security Council or the Bretton Woods institutions, its ability to actualize such reforms remains constrained. Without material coalitions and binding alliances, the “voice of the Global South” risks becoming a rhetorical device rather than a political instrument.
Strategic Autonomy or Equidistant Diplomacy?
India’s approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict—condemning violence but refusing to toe the Western line on sanctions—has drawn criticism from several G7 members. But this stance is less a contradiction and more a coherent expression of strategic autonomy. India refuses to be co-opted into binary geopolitical alignments. Its emphasis on issue-based coalitions—whether through the Quad, BRICS, or the I2U2 grouping—illustrates a foreign policy that is simultaneously plural and pragmatic.
Indeed, New Delhi’s outreach to Canada’s PM Mark Carney, despite previous diplomatic hostilities, reinforces the idea that India can compartmentalize tensions and prioritize the long game. This transactional but principled diplomacy is a defining feature of India’s new external relations architecture.
From Rule Taker to Rule Maker?
India’s interventions at the summit—on climate finance, ethical AI, counterterrorism, and supply chain resilience—signal its ambition to be a rule-maker rather than a rule-taker. Modi’s sharp criticism of the “double standards” on terrorism, alongside his call for inclusive technology governance, reflects India’s frustration with selective morality in global norms.
It is here that India’s challenge lies: Can it institutionalize its moral positions into durable policy coalitions? Can it translate its normative vocabulary into functional multilateralism? Without formal membership in clubs like the G7, India’s ability to shape their internal agenda will remain partial at best.
The Road Ahead: Global Presence, Domestic Consistency
India’s elevated status in global forums must be accompanied by domestic credibility. While India speaks of democratic pluralism abroad, concerns about institutional backsliding and majoritarianism at home persist. To project normative leadership, India must ensure that its internal political architecture remains consistent with the values it promotes internationally.
Simultaneously, India must invest in intellectual and policy infrastructures that can support long-term strategic thinking—think tanks, diplomatic training, and foreign language capacity remain under-resourced. Great powers are not only built through summits but through systems.
Conclusion
India’s participation in the 2025 G7 Summit is neither incidental nor ornamental. It reflects a structural shift in global politics—towards multipolarity, issue-based coalitions, and the rebalancing of voice in global affairs. India is not yet a member of the G7, but it is undeniably indispensable to the future of global governance.
To move from engagement to influence, India must consolidate its normative ambitions with strategic depth, build coalitions with like-minded powers, and ensure that its domestic governance reinforces the values it seeks to globalize. The journey from invited guest to agenda-setter is arduous, but India is clearly on the path.
