After a period of over two years with strained diplomatic ties, Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to visit India in the upcoming weeks as both nations seek to broaden their trade partnerships amidst the trade conflict initiated by U.S. President Donald Trump.
India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, informed CBC’s Power & Politics host David Cochrane that the visit is planned post India’s budget presentation on February 1. According to Patnaik, the revitalized diplomatic relations signal a restoration of trust in the system, with diplomats now catching up on previously missed work due to a temporary disruption in relations.
The rift began when former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau suggested that Indian agents were involved in the extrajudicial killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil in 2023. Additionally, the RCMP accused Indian government agents of engaging in criminal activities like homicides, extortion, and threats in Canada. These allegations significantly strained the Canada-India relationship, which has only started showing signs of improvement recently.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration has consistently denied any involvement in ordering extrajudicial killings in Canada. Patnaik reiterated that there is no evidence against the Government of India in this matter, emphasizing that the accusations stem from a previous administration.
The upcoming visit by Carney follows a mutual commitment from both leaders to commence negotiations for a new trade agreement known as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). This commitment was made during their meeting at the G20 Summit in South Africa last November when Carney accepted Modi’s invitation to visit India in early 2026.
Both Canada and India are grappling with high U.S. tariffs, with India facing tariffs as high as 50%, partly due to its purchases of Russian oil. Patnaik highlighted the mutual need for both countries and the importance recognized by both prime ministers.
Patnaik expressed his hopes for advancing cooperation between Canada and India across various sectors such as energy, fertilizers, agri-food, innovation, research and development, aerospace, and defense. When questioned about the possibility of signing a trade deal by the end of the year, Patnaik indicated that significant progress in these areas would be a commendable achievement.
Carney’s visit will be preceded by diplomatic missions to India by several Canadian ministers, including Federal Energy Minister Tim Hodgson and Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon, scheduled for later this month. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and International Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu had also conducted missions to India late last year, reflecting the ongoing efforts to strengthen relations under Carney’s leadership amidst the challenges posed by U.S. tariffs. Carney is set to embark on a similar crucial trade mission to China next week following years of strained diplomatic ties with the country.