Canada’s Foreign Minister Anita Anand Meets Indian PM Modi to Ease Tensions
India and Canada are taking steps to rebuild their diplomatic relations, which have suffered recently. This initiative comes after a significant meeting in Delhi between Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and Indian officials. The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation between the two nations.
Key Developments in India-Canada Relations
Anita Anand’s visit marks a crucial moment for Canada-India relations. She met with Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi emphasized the need to “impart new momentum” to the bilateral partnership.
Background of Tensions
The relationship between India and Canada deteriorated sharply in 2023 when then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. India strongly denied these allegations. As a consequence, both countries suspended visa services and expelled each other’s top diplomats.
Canada is home to approximately 1.7 million individuals of Indian origin, making developments in these diplomatic relations crucial for both nations.
New measures announced
After the recent meetings, both sides agreed on several initiatives:
- Launch of ministerial-level discussions on bilateral trade and investment.
- Resumption of the Canada–India CEO Forum to boost trade.
- Focus on mutual priorities in the Indo-Pacific region.
In a joint statement, Anand and Jaishankar noted that reviving the partnership could create new economic opportunities and help address vulnerabilities from changing global alliances.
Positive Signs of Cooperation
Signs of a thaw in relations have begun to emerge, particularly since Mark Carney became Prime Minister of Canada. In June, Carney and Modi met during the G7 summit, signaling a commitment to restore ties. Furthermore, both nations appointed new high commissioners to enhance communications.
Jaishankar noted that recent months have shown steady progress in bilateral relations. He described Canada as a “complementary economy” that values diversity and openness, which supports a stronger cooperative framework.
Future Engagements
In addition to meetings with Jaishankar, Anand plans to discuss trade with India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. Her itinerary also includes a visit to Mumbai, where she will address business leaders about investment opportunities.
Following her time in India, Anand intends to visit China and Singapore as part of Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy. This strategy emphasizes enhancing Canada’s engagement with countries in the region.
