Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. This marked the first in-person encounter between the two leaders following Canada’s recent elections. During the meeting, they underscored the significance of India-Canada relations and committed to taking constructive steps towards stabilizing the relationship. Key among these steps is the early return of High Commissioners to their respective capitals.
The meeting provided a platform for candid and forward-looking discussions on the current state of India-Canada relations and the future trajectory. Both leaders reaffirmed the importance of the ties, grounded in shared democratic values, respect for the rule of law, and a commitment to uphold sovereignty and territorial integrity. They emphasized the need for a constructive and balanced partnership, built on mutual respect, strong people-to-people connections, and growing economic complementarities.
A significant outcome of the meeting was the agreement between India and Canada to take calibrated and constructive steps to restore stability, commencing with the prompt return of High Commissioners. Additionally, the leaders highlighted the importance of restarting senior ministerial and working-level engagements across various domains to rebuild trust and foster momentum in the relationship.
Discussions also covered potential collaboration in crucial areas like clean energy, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, LNG, food security, critical minerals, higher education, mobility, and supply chain resilience. They reiterated their shared interest in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific. Further, they addressed restarting stalled negotiations on the Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA), paving the way for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). Officials from both sides will be tasked with furthering these discussions.
The leaders acknowledged the progress made at the G7 Summit and expressed their willingness to work together on global priorities such as climate action, inclusive growth, and sustainable development. They highlighted the deep people-to-people connections between the two countries, agreeing to leverage this bridge for mutual benefit. They agreed to maintain communication and look forward to future meetings. The positive developments follow strained relations after former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged “credible allegations” of India’s involvement in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada in 2023. India strongly denied these allegations, calling them “absurd” and “motivated.”
