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    NORTH AMERICAN Newsline                                           NOVEMBER 07, 2025        |  The Indian Eye 31

             India and Canada Reset Ties: From Diplomatic

                               Frost to a New Era of Cooperation

              After two turbulent years marked by accusations, expulsions, and mistrust, India and Canada are finally rebuilding
                    their relationship, setting the stage for high-level talks, trade expansion, and renewed diplomatic warmth.

                 or nearly two years, India and                                                                   visor  Ajit  Doval  and  his  Canadian
                 Canada’s relations had been                                                                      counterpart Nathalie Drouin met in
            Ffrozen in  a  deep diplomatic                                                                        September to discuss strengthening
            chill following the 2023 allegations by                                                               collaboration  against  terrorism  and
            then–Prime Minister Justin Trudeau                                                                    transnational organized crime. The
            that Indian agents were involved in                                                                   Ministry of External Affairs in New
            the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep                                                                  Delhi described the meeting as part
            Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.                                                                     of a “regular bilateral security dia-
            The fallout was swift and bitter —                                                                    logue” and a “follow-up to discus-
            expulsions of diplomats, stalled trade                                                                sions” between Modi and Carney at
            talks, and public rebukes on both                                                                     the G7.
            sides. Today, however, that chapter                                                                     From Confrontation to Collaboration
            appears to be closing as both nations
            move toward cautious reconciliation.                                                                      The renewed engagement marks
                At the centre of this diplomatic                                                                  a decisive departure from the ten-
            thaw is the upcoming visit of Cana-                                                                   sion of 2023–2024, when both sides
            dian Prime Minister Mark Carney to                                                                    expelled diplomats and froze trade
            New Delhi, expected early next year.                                                                  negotiations. Now, as both govern-
            The visit — at the invitation of Prime   than double again. Patnaik has said   Canada’s multicultural identity.  ments talk about “momentum for
            Minister Narendra Modi — could sig-  that India is keen to expand imports   Canadian leaders, including   rebuilding trust,” the focus is shifting
            nal a turning point, with the two coun-  of Canadian oil, gas, and agricultur-  Carney and Foreign Minister Anita   from confrontation to collaboration.
            tries preparing the ground for a com-  al products — particularly canola oil   Anand, joined in the festivities, pub-  India, for its part, remains firm
            prehensive economic and free-trade   — while also looking to invest in Ca-  licly extending Diwali greetings and   that Canada must prevent extremist
            partnership that could elevate bilater-  nadian energy, critical minerals, and   celebrating Indian traditions. Anand,   elements from exploiting its free-
            al trade beyond $50 billion annually.  clean technologies.          in particular, has been at the fore-  doms to incite violence. Patnaik has
                                                  However, Patnaik noted that   front of the diplomatic reset — her   spoken openly about threats from
                 A Fresh Start After Trudeau
                                              Ottawa must create a clearer invest-  October visit to New Delhi result-  Khalistani separatists outside his resi-
                The change in tone has been as   ment framework, with predictable   ed in a joint declaration on law en-  dence, calling for deeper cooperation
            dramatic as the change in leadership   environmental and indigenous land-  forcement and rule of law, marking   with the RCMP and Canadian Secu-
            in Ottawa. Carney, who succeeded   use regulations. “We would be hap-  the first time such an agreement was   rity Intelligence Service. “We need to
            Trudeau, has focused on rebuilding   py to invest in Canada, but you have   signed between the two nations.  talk. We need to have a clear security
            bridges with India, a country now   to create the ecosystem,” he said,   Security and Trust Rebuilding  dialogue,” he said, adding that while
            seen by Canada as an indispensable   lauding Carney’s creation of a Major                             India is ready to engage, it cannot
            partner in trade, energy, and tech-  Projects Office in Calgary to stream-  The new joint declaration un-  wait  indefinitely  for  Canada  to  act.
            nology. “Both countries are making a   line large-scale investments.  derscores the seriousness with which      Looking Ahead
            sincere effort to repair strained dip-  India’s interest in AI and quan-  both sides now approach security
            lomatic relations,” India’s new High   tum computing collaboration with   cooperation. In an interview with   With trade, technology, and se-
            Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh    Canada also reflects the new thrust   CBC News, Anand described ongo-  curity on the agenda — and with Di-
            Kumar Patnaik, told The Globe and   of their relationship — one built as   ing “productive conversations” be-  wali lights symbolically brightening
            Mail, stressing that the focus has   much on innovation and sustainabili-  tween Indian and Canadian officials   relations — India and Canada appear
            shifted from rhetoric to results.  ty as on traditional energy and trade.   on  public safety  and  counterterror-  ready to turn the page. The anticipat-
                The  Modi-Carney  meeting  at   Carney has been invited to attend the   ism. Canada’s decision to designate   ed Carney visit could transform the
            the G7 summit in Alberta earlier this   Artificial Intelligence Action Summit   the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist or-  cautious optimism into concrete out-
            year  was  the  first  major  step  in  re-  in New Delhi in February, where the   ganization — in response to Indian   comes, from a revived free-trade pact
            storing communication. Since then,   two prime ministers are expected to   concerns — was seen as a significant   to greater intelligence sharing.
            national security advisers and foreign   hold detailed talks.       confidence-building step.             For both countries, the stakes
            ministers have  maintained  a  steady   Diplomacy Through Culture and People  The shift in Ottawa’s tone is no-  are high. Canada needs new markets
            line of dialogue, addressing security                               table. Unlike the Trudeau era, where   amid growing U.S. tariff pressures
            concerns and paving the way for eco-  The soft-power dimension of this   allegations and diplomatic spats   and its strained ties with China, while
            nomic cooperation.                rapprochement has been equally visi-  dominated the discourse, the Carney   India seeks reliable partners for en-
                                              ble. Canada Post recently unveiled a   government has emphasised “law   ergy, innovation, and investment.
              Rekindling Trade and Economic Ties
                                              Diwali stamp featuring a traditional   enforcement dialogue” and practical   If Modi and Carney succeed in
                Trade between India and Cana-  Rangoli design, while the city of To-  cooperation. Anand made clear that   translating goodwill into policy, 2025
            da hit a record $23.6 billion in 2024,   ronto  officially  proclaimed  October   “back to normal” does not mean ig-  could be remembered as the year In-
            nearly doubling from the previous   20, 2025, as  “Diwali Day.” Indian   noring security concerns, but rather   dia and Canada moved from distrust
            year. With both countries now prior-  diplomats hailed the gestures as sym-  managing them through structured   to  partnership  —  one  defined  not
            itising renewed talks on a free-trade   bols of a growing recognition of the   engagement.            by the ghosts of the past, but by the
            agreement,  that  figure  could  more   Indian community’s contributions to   India’s National Security Ad-  promise of a shared future.

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