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Before G7 turned out to be fine on Friday...
ET Bureau | June 9, 2025 4:20 AM CST

Synopsis

Initially, there was anger over the Indian PM's absence from the G7 summit hosted by Canada. There were plans to criticize Canada and even propose a deal with the US. An anti-G7 manifesto was also in the works. However, Mark Carney's invitation to Narendra Modi changed everything. The author now views G7 in a positive light.

Just when we were ready to expose G7 as a fuddy-duddy boys' club, comprising post-WW2 'school prefect' countries plus two Marshall Planned members, we now have to hold our horses.

That the Indian PM hadn't got an invitation from the Canadian PM-Canada is hosting the summit at Kananaskis in Alberta-to be a guest at the powwow starting this coming weekend got us riled up.

Finally, we could call the old shovel a shovel-or, more to the point, a group of zamindars clinging to their titles in a world that has moved on 'upper east side'.

We were all ready to rail against how 'emerging' economies like China, India, Brazil are kept forever 'emerging'-never to emerge-by G7ers, despite reshaping trade, tech and geopolitics. 'G7 can get stuffed!' our almost-unfurled banners read. On a more bilateral note, we were raring to trash-talk Canada for their 'anti-India' views.

With no invitation even by midweek, we were all set to broker a deal with Trump to make that country the 51st US state. 'Holding lavish summits where the world's most privileged discuss inequality over champagne is a poor look.

Disband G7, or reflect...' was the opening to our anti-G7 manifesto that would have been approved by some key ministers. And then, Mark Carney invited Narendra Modi. Yes, we wasted our time. Because you see, G7 is, after all, very, very fine.


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