In the lead-up to Carney’s visit, the Canadian government has stated that it no longer believes India is connected to violent crimes in Canada. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to visit India from February 26 to March 7, in a bid to reset relations between the two countries following a period of strained ties. This marks the first official visit by a Canadian leader since relations failed under the previous administration.
According to a statement from the Canadian Prime Minister’s Office, PM Carney will begin his trip in Mumbai, where he will meet business leaders, before travelling to New Delhi for high-level discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 2.
Officials noted that whilst earlier investigations looked into potential foreign interference and criminal connections, current evaluations do not link the Indian government to any ongoing violent activities. This clarification reflects Ottawa’s efforts to stabilise bilateral relations and re-engage with India through diplomacy and economic cooperation.
“We have a very robust diplomatic engagement, including between national security advisers, and I think we can say we're confident that that activity is not continuing,” The Toronto Star quoted a senior official as saying on condition of anonymity on Wednesday.
"I really don't think we'd be taking this trip if we thought these kinds of activities were continuing," a senior government official added.
How Did Relations Between India And Canada Deteriorate?
Relations between the two countries deteriorated sharply after the June 2023 killing of khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a gurudwara in British Columbia. Months later, then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there was "credible" evidence linking agents of the India government to Nijjar's death, an allegation New Delhi strongly denied.
The dispute led to the expulsion of diplomats from both countries and a prolonged diplomatic standoff.
You May Also Like To Watch
Further, in 2024, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) claimed that Indian government agents were linked to violent crime in Canada, including death threats and alleged involvement in homicides. The claims were refuted by the Ministry of External Affairs during a press briefing held in 2024.
However, Canadian officials briefing reporters this week suggested that previous concerns about active foreign interference or repression linked to India are no longer ongoing.
Meanwhie, these high-level talks between the two nations aim to accelerate negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, which is intended to enhance bilateral trade and investment. Officials stressed India’s rising global economic influence and its significance as a strategic partner for Canada.
ALSO READ: PM Modi Condemns Hamas' October 7 Attacks, Reaffirms 'India Stands With Israel'
India ranked Canada’s seventh-largest trading partner in 2024
The two leaders will discuss the development of new partnerships in clean energy, artificial intelligence, defence, and technology. A primary objective of the visit is to expedite negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. The Canadian PMO emphasised that India is the world’s fastest-growing major economy and a leading force in global commerce and technology.
In 2024, India ranked as Canada’s seventh-largest trading partner in goods and services, with two-way trade reaching 30.8 billion dollars.
During the G20 summit in Johannesburg last November, Prime Minister Modi met Carney on the sidelines, where he observed that India has established a target of 50 billion dollars in bilateral trade by 2030. Prime Minister Modi highlighted the substantial potential for India and Canada to strengthen trade and investment linkages.