India and Canada look forward to maintaining the “positive momentum” in the relationship while continuing the “close engagement” that has emerged in recent months.
This confirmation of the current status of bilateral relations came as Indian High Commissioner in Ottawa Dinesh Patnaik met with Canadian Deputy Foreign Minister Arun Thangaraj in Ottawa on Friday.
Recently appointed to the position, as Canada’s top global affairs official, Thangaraj is the country’s foreign minister, the equivalent of a foreign minister in India’s Ministry of External Affairs. Thangaraj replaces David Morrison, who took on the position of senior diplomatic and international affairs advisor to the Prime Minister.
In a statement after the meeting, the Indian High Commission in Ottawa said they met to “review the full scope of India-Canada relations” and “discuss progress on key initiatives and outcomes announced during Prime Minister (Mark) Carney’s recent visit to India, including enhancing economic cooperation, deepening people-to-people ties, and enhancing cooperation in priority sectors.”
He added, “The two sides agreed to maintain the positive momentum and continue close communication.”
Carney’s visit to India culminated in his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which resulted in several outcomes, including the launch of negotiations towards a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, or CEPA, between the two countries.
These negotiations are ongoing as the two sides attempt to complete the process by the end of the year, as envisioned by the two Prime Ministers.
Trade relations are expected to receive further support when Trade and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal visits Canada next month, bringing with him a large trade delegation.
Relations between Canada and India faltered on September 18, 2023, when then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stated in the House of Commons that there were “credible allegations” of a possible link between Indian agents and the killing of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Nigar in Surrey, British Columbia, three months earlier. India rejected these accusations, describing them as “ridiculous” and “motivated.”
The reset in relations came after Carney took over as prime minister in March 2025. He invited Modi to attend the G7 leaders’ summit in Kananaskis in June last year. They met again in November on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Johannesburg before Carney’s visit to India earlier this year.
