- By Shivangi Sharma
- Thu, 28 Aug 2025 10:44 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Canada has appointed veteran diplomat Christopher Cooter as its new High Commissioner to India, signalling a cautious but important step toward rebuilding ties between the two countries after months of strained relations. The announcement came in a handout from the Canadian foreign ministry, which noted that the move follows commitments made by Prime Ministers Mark Carney and Narendra Modi at the G7 Summit to restore diplomatic representation in each other’s capitals.
Foreign Minister Anita Anand said that Cooter, a seasoned diplomat with over 35 years of experience, will succeed Cameron MacKay as Canada’s top envoy in New Delhi. The position had remained vacant since October 2023, when both nations expelled each other’s high commissioners following tensions over the killing of Canadian Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
“The appointment of a new high commissioner reflects Canada’s step-by-step approach to deepening diplomatic engagement and advancing bilateral cooperation with India,” Anand said in the release. She emphasised that the move is also intended to restore essential services for Canadians while building stronger economic and people-to-people links.
India, too, has named its new envoy to Canada. Dinesh Patnaik, currently serving as ambassador to Spain, will take up the role of High Commissioner to Ottawa in the coming weeks, according to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs.
India-Canada Ties Thaw After 2023 Rift
Relations between New Delhi and Ottawa soured in 2023 after former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that Indian officials were linked to the assassination of Nijjar, a charge India strongly denied. The fallout led to diplomatic expulsions and a freeze in high-level engagement. However, with Mark Carney assuming office as Prime Minister, both sides have shown willingness to turn the page. Carney, who has stressed the importance of diversifying Canada’s trade away from the United States, met Prime Minister Modi in June, calling the talks “productive.”
India is Canada’s largest source of temporary foreign workers and international students, in addition to being a key agricultural partner, particularly in the trade of lentils and yellow peas. The renewal of diplomatic appointments is expected to strengthen economic cooperation and address long-standing issues in mobility, trade, and consular services.
Cooter brings with him extensive experience, having served as Canada’s Chargé d’affaires to Israel and as High Commissioner to South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Mauritius, and Madagascar. He also served as First Secretary in the Canadian High Commission to India, Nepal, and Bhutan between 1998 and 2000, giving him prior familiarity with the region.