India-Canada to Reset Ties: Trade, Security, and Technology

In a major diplomatic breakthrough, India and Canada unveiled a comprehensive roadmap to reset ties and restore stability to their relationship, which was badly strained by the row over the killing of a Khalistani separatist two years ago. The agreement was announced on Monday following Canadian foreign minister Anita Anand’s meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and external affairs minister S. Jaishankar in New Delhi.

The India-Canada roadmap to reset ties focuses on reviving stalled trade and investment talks, strengthening security cooperation, and deepening collaboration across technology, clean energy, agriculture, and people-to-people exchanges. Both sides underlined that the move is essential to safeguard economic stability amid global uncertainty and shifting geopolitical equations.

India-Canada: A Diplomatic Reset After Years of Strain

Anand’s visit marks the first by a Canadian minister since 2023, when relations plummeted after former prime minister Justin Trudeau alleged Indian involvement in the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – accusations dismissed by New Delhi as “absurd.”

Her talks in Delhi are part of a broader diplomatic reset initiated in June, when Prime Minister Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. That meeting, followed by rounds of security and ministerial-level dialogues, set the stage for Monday’s announcement.

“Had constructive discussions to restore and reinvigorate the mechanisms necessary to advance our partnership,” Jaishankar said, adding that both nations are determined to shepherd the process of rebuilding cooperation in line with the expectations of their leaders and citizens.

Roadmap for Trade, Energy, and Technology

The India-Canada roadmap to reset ties prioritizes resuming negotiations on a free trade agreement that was halted during the diplomatic crisis. Bilateral trade stood at $23.66 billion in 2024, and both countries are eager to expand cooperation in clean technology, agri-food, infrastructure, and digital innovation.

The roadmap also re-establishes the Canada-India Ministerial Energy Dialogue to advance collaboration in renewable energy, LNG and LPG trade, and decarbonisation of heavy industries. Canada’s expertise in mining critical minerals will be leveraged to support India’s energy and industrial needs, while civil nuclear cooperation will continue with renewed engagement between India’s Department of Atomic Energy and Canadian uranium suppliers.

In the technology space, early initiatives include relaunching the Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee, expanding AI partnerships, and exploring cooperation in digital public infrastructure.

India-Canada: Building Security and Trust

Security cooperation has emerged as another pillar of the roadmap. Both sides acknowledged progress made in recent dialogues between national security officials and foreign ministry representatives. Notably, Canada’s recent move to designate the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity signaled responsiveness to Indian concerns over transnational organised crime and pro-Khalistan elements.

Anand emphasised the importance of maintaining law enforcement dialogues and underscored Canada’s commitment to a balanced and respectful partnership.

People-to-People Links and Education

Recognising the strength of their diaspora and educational ties, India and Canada pledged to revitalise collaborations in higher education, professional mobility, tourism, and research. A Joint Working Group on Higher Education will be relaunched to facilitate student exchanges, partnerships in AI and cybersecurity, and joint research in fintech.

Looking Ahead

Prime Minister Modi described his discussions with Anand as a step toward imparting “new momentum” to the bilateral partnership. He recalled his “extremely productive” meeting with Carney in June and expressed optimism about the path ahead.

For her part, Anand said that the roadmap builds on Carney’s meeting with Modi and reflects the two governments’ shared resolve to strengthen cooperation across critical sectors while addressing security concerns.

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