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NORTH AMERICAN Newsline DECEMBER 05, 2025 | The Indian Eye 19

India–Canada Reset Gains

Momentum as Mark Carney

Plans 2026 Visit

After years of diplomatic strain, India and Canada appear firmly on a path to stabilising and

rebuilding their relationship

OUR BUREAU The launch of the Australia–Canada–India
Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partner-
Ottawa / New Delhi / Johannesburg
ship—focused on critical technologies, AI, nuclear
hat began as a tentative thaw at the G7 energy and resilient supply chains—has added an-
Summit in Kananaskis in June has now other layer to this strategic alignment.
Wevolved into a deliberate and structured While trade is driving the reset, diplomacy is
reset in India–Canada ties. When Prime Minis- providing the scaffolding. Canadian Foreign Af-
ter Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister fairs Minister Anita Anand described the approach
Mark Carney met again on the sidelines of the G20 as “step by step,” listing three foundational moves:
Summit on Sunday, the optics were notably differ- Restarting the security and law-enforcement dia-
ent: firm handshakes, detailed conversations and a logue; restoring high commissioners; and issuing
shared commitment to rebuild what had been bad- a joint framework outlining cooperation based on
ly frayed under Justin Trudeau’s leadership. rule of law and mutual respect.
Carney’s acceptance of Modi’s invitation to Anand’s language was deliberate. Ottawa
visit India in early 2026 is the clearest signal yet knows that the Nijjar controversy cast a long shad-
of where Ottawa wants to take the relationship. ow over the relationship. Her reference to “rule of
The two sides have already restored their high law” and “security dialogue” is widely seen as an
commissioners and agreed to scale up diplomatic attempt to reassure New Delhi that the mistakes
staffing, acknowledging rising consular demand of 2023 will not be repeated.
and renewed people-to-people movement. Car- Her visit to India earlier this year, followed
ney described India as a “reliable trading partner,” by meetings with External Affairs Minister S. Jais-
highlighting that Canada cannot afford to stay dis- hankar at the G7 foreign ministers’ gathering in
engaged from “one of the world’s largest and fast- Niagara, cemented the repair process. The two
est-growing economies.” sides also discussed mobility, critical minerals, ura-
For New Delhi, the shift in tone from Ottawa is nium supply and energy security.
not merely welcomed—it is strategically valuable. Indian High Commissioner Dinesh Patnaik’s
After diplomatic ties hit their lowest point in 2023 firm response to the latest Khalistan referendum
following Trudeau’s allegations regarding Hard- attempt in Ottawa underscored another critical
eep Singh Nijjar’s killing—claims India rejected dimension: Ottawa must demonstrate that it can
as “absurd” and “motivated”—the Modi–Carney curb extremist activity that affects bilateral trust.
equation has offered an alternative track built on Patnaik was clear: India does not oppose
trust, clarity and economic logic. The G7 meeting peaceful political expression, but the glorification
in June acted as the breakthrough; the G20 meet- of violence and the display of images of assassi-
ing consolidated it. nations are “deeply troubling” and carry political
“Had a very productive meeting with Prime Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands implications. “Imagine if another country did this
Minister Mark Carney of Canada,” Modi posted with Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney during a bilateral with Quebec,” he told CBC, making the issue re-
on X, noting the “significant momentum” since meeting on the sidelines of G20 Summit, in Johannesburg latable to Canadian domestic sensitivities.
their earlier interaction. With bilateral trade al- The Modi–Carney reset is not a symbolic cor-
ready above USD 30 billion, the two leaders set an (DPR PMO/ANI Photo) rection—it is a structural shift in how both nations
ambitious goal: USD 50 billion by 2030. perceive each other. Mutual economic need, geopo-
Central to the reset is the revival of negotia- “renewed trust” between the two countries. He litical realignment and a shared desire to move past
tions on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership described India and Canada as “natural allies,” an acrimonious period are shaping a new trajectory.
Agreement (CEPA), once frozen after tensions es- with complementary strengths in critical minerals, By early 2026, when Carney visits India, the re-
calated in 2023. On Sunday, India and Canada for- energy, nuclear cooperation and technology. lationship could look vastly different. If CEPA ne-
mally agreed to begin talks on a “high-ambition” For Ottawa, the CEPA is not just a trade in- gotiations make headway, uranium supply agree-
CEPA that could more than double trade. Carney strument; it is also a strategic hedge. Carney open- ments are finalised, and technology partnerships
even suggested that a successful deal could push ly acknowledged that Canada is looking to diver- deepen, the India–Canada relationship may finally
bilateral commerce above C$70 billion. sify supply chains away from China, citing India’s shed the volatility of recent years.
Indian officials call the negotiations a “fresh growing role in solar, wind and clean-tech manu- What seemed nearly impossible in 2023 is now
start built on clarity.” Commerce Minister Piyush facturing. A formal agreement, he said, would give within reach: a stable, strategic, mutually benefi-
Goyal said the agreement would boost investor Canadian businesses “clear rules, protections and cial partnership powered by clear interests and
confidence, strengthen supply chains and reflect a dispute-resolution system.” fewer illusions.

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