- India and Canadian foreign ministers agree to deepen cooperation.
- Both parties seek to regain trust after two years of tensions.
- Emphasize partnership to counter global economic vulnerabilities.
India and Canada agreed on a new roadmap for their relations on Monday after talks between their foreign ministers in New Delhi, as both countries seek to repair ties strained by the killing of a Canadian Sikh separatist.
The two countries, seeking to diversify trade away from the United States due to tariff announcements, agreed to collaborate in areas such as critical minerals, trade and agricultural value chains, according to a joint statement.
“Reviving this partnership will not only create opportunities for greater economic cooperation but will also help mitigate vulnerabilities arising from changing global alliances,” he said.
Almost two years of tense relations
The statement came after Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Monday.
“Both our governments agree on the importance of elevating the relationship,” Anand said in his opening remarks at the meeting with Jaishankar.
Relations between New Delhi and Ottawa were strained for nearly two years after then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused New Delhi in 2023 of being involved in the assassination of Canadian Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
India denied Canada's accusations of its involvement in the assassination and, in turn, accused Ottawa of fostering separatist groups on its territory.
In June this year, Trudeau's successor, Mark Carney, received Modi at the G7 summit in Kananaskis, in the Canadian province of Alberta.
India is Canada's largest source of temporary foreign workers and international students, as well as a major market for legumes such as lentils and yellow peas.
Canada is home to an influential Sikh community. Indian leaders say there are some fringe groups there that are still sympathetic to the cause of an independent Sikh state called Khalistan that will break away from Hindu-majority India.
