In an exchange that was mostly all smiles, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stood almost side by side and even exchanged a few words during a photo shoot at the recent G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro. Only Joe Biden, on his last summit appearance as U.S. President, was between them.
Photos and videos capture the three leaders lined up in the front row and near the centre of the gathered world leaders. At one point, Biden reaches out to put an arm around Modi’s shoulder, pulling him in as the three men talk and even laugh a little, while mostly keeping their faces smiling for the cameras.
Later, all three men link hands together, again with Biden in the middle.
Relations between Canada and India have been strained for over a year now. In September of 2023, Trudeau voiced allegations that the Indian government was involved in the June killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh activist who was shot outside a temple in British Columbia.
India dismissed the allegations, but subsequently the two countries expelled each others’ diplomats. More recently, Modi commented on an attack on a Hindu temple near Toronto, posting to social media that “Such acts of violence will never weaken India’s resolve,” and adding: “We expect the Canadian government to ensure justice and uphold the rule of law.”
Meetings have brought Trudeau and Modi together on numerous occasions. A 2018 visit to India by the prime minister was very cordial, although Trudeau’s decision to wear Indian-style clothing raised eyebrows both here and abroad, especially from those who felt he might be overdoing it.
As recently as September of 2023, the two prime ministers met and shook hands at another G20 leaders’ summit, this one in New Delhi. But a week after that event was when Trudeau made his announcement about possible Indian involvement in Nijjar’s killing.
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