Anita Anand: Canadian FM Meets MEA Jaishankar to Boost Trade
Anita Anand: Canadian Foreign Minister Begins Strategic Talks with S. Jaishankar
Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand landed in New Delhi on Sunday, marking the beginning of her first official trip to India since assuming office in May. The high-profile Anita Anand India Visit comes at a pivotal moment, as both countries work to rebuild and strengthen ties after years of strained relations.
Anand will meet with her Indian counterpart, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, on Monday for discussions aimed at establishing a framework for “strategic cooperation” in areas of trade, energy transformation, and security. She is also scheduled to hold talks with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to explore new avenues for boosting bilateral trade.
Welcoming her arrival, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“A warm welcome to FM @AnitaAnandMP of Canada on her first official visit to New Delhi. This visit will help build on the positive momentum in India-Canada relations by revitalising our bilateral mechanisms, deepening economic cooperation, and further strengthening the enduring people-to-people ties that anchor our partnership.”
Anita Anand: A Turning Point in India–Canada Relations
The Anita Anand India Visit comes after months of diplomatic engagement between the two nations. Just three weeks ago, Canada’s National Security Advisor Nathalie Drouin held extensive talks with her Indian counterpart Ajit Doval in New Delhi. Shortly after, Canada designated the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organization, signaling cooperation on counterterrorism measures.
This renewed warmth follows the June meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada. Relations between New Delhi and Ottawa had plunged to their lowest point in 2023 when then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar — an accusation India dismissed as “absurd.”
By October 2024, India and Canada had expelled each other’s diplomats, deepening the standoff. However, Carney’s election victory in April this year paved the way for a diplomatic reset. Both countries have since reinstated their high commissioners and agreed to revive several dialogue mechanisms.
Strategic and Economic Cooperation in Focus
According to a Canadian government readout, Minister Anand’s talks in New Delhi will center on trade diversification, energy transformation, and regional security cooperation. Her itinerary also includes a trip to Mumbai, where she will meet with Canadian and Indian firms working to boost bilateral investments and create new economic opportunities.
Trade between India and Canada currently hovers around $10 billion annually, but both sides are eager to expand economic cooperation, particularly in clean energy, critical minerals, technology, and higher education.
Anita Anand: A Wider Indo-Pacific Engagement
Anand’s India stop is the first leg of her three-nation tour, which also includes China and Singapore. In Beijing, she is expected to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to mark 55 years of diplomatic ties, while in Singapore, she will hold talks with Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan to deepen cooperation with Southeast Asia.
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