Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to India aims to mend diplomatic relations and enhance trade cooperation between the two nations following recent tensions.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s recent visit to India represents a significant effort to mend strained diplomatic relations, deepen trade cooperation, and reaffirm a forward-looking partnership between the two countries. Carney arrived in Mumbai on Friday for his inaugural official visit to India, with the goal of expanding trade ties following a period of diplomatic friction under his predecessor.
During his four-day trip, Carney is scheduled to meet with Indian business leaders and engage in discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday. According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, this meeting will serve as an opportunity to reinforce “the positive momentum and shared vision” for a collaborative future. Key topics for discussion are expected to include trade and investment, energy, critical minerals, and technology.
Carney’s visit aligns with a broader strategy to diversify Canada’s trade relationships beyond its traditional reliance on the United States. Following his trip to India, he plans to visit Australia and Japan next week, with an ambitious target to double Canada’s non-U.S. exports over the next decade. He has cited American tariffs as a significant challenge to investment, underscoring the need for Canada to explore new markets.
The backdrop to Carney’s visit includes a period of deteriorating bilateral relations, which escalated after Canadian authorities accused India of involvement in the 2023 killing of a Canadian Sikh activist near Vancouver. India has vehemently denied these allegations and criticized the previous Canadian government, led by Justin Trudeau, for allegedly supporting extremists linked to the banned Khalistan movement.
Relations began to thaw last June when Carney extended an invitation to Modi to attend the G7 summit in Alberta. However, Canada is not alone in raising concerns about Indian operations abroad. In 2023, U.S. federal prosecutors accused an Indian official of orchestrating a failed attempt to assassinate a Sikh separatist in New York. Additionally, an Indian national recently confessed to conspiring to hire a hitman against the same individual.
Carney’s visit is a clear indication of his administration’s intention to move past political tensions and focus on strengthening economic and strategic ties between Canada and India. As both nations look to the future, this visit could pave the way for enhanced cooperation in various sectors, fostering a more robust partnership.
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the discussions during Carney’s visit are expected to yield significant advancements in trade and investment, which could benefit both nations in the long run.