Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Mumbai on Thursday, marking the first leg of a multi-country tour aimed at strengthening trade relationships and restoring stability to Canada’s diplomatic ties with India.
The visit comes at a pivotal moment for Ottawa and New Delhi, which have been working to repair strained relations following a period of political tension. Carney’s trip is focused on expanding collaboration in trade, energy, and technology sectors both governments view as critical to long-term economic growth.
Shortly after touching down, Carney said he was in Mumbai to engage with business leaders and “forge partnerships that will unlock new opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses.”
The visit signals a deliberate effort to turn the page on recent diplomatic disputes. Relations between the two countries deteriorated sharply in 2023 when former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly alleged Indian involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia. India strongly rejected the claim, and the fallout led to a diplomatic freeze, including staffing reductions and the lifting of immunity for Canadian diplomats.
Tensions had already been simmering following Trudeau’s controversial 2018 visit to India, during which Jaspal Atwal convicted for attempting to assassinate a Punjabi cabinet minister and linked to a pro-Khalistan extremist group was invited to an official reception attended by the prime minister. The episode drew criticism in both countries.
Carney’s government has since pursued a quieter, more measured diplomatic strategy. Engagements between national security advisers have resumed, and ministerial-level talks have increased over the past year.
Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand visited New Delhi in October 2025, where both sides unveiled a roadmap to restore cooperation and agreed to return diplomatic staffing to previous levels. Soon after, negotiations for the long-stalled Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) were revived. Trade talks had been suspended in 2023 amid the diplomatic dispute.
Energy cooperation has emerged as a central pillar of the renewed engagement. Canada, seeking to diversify its export markets, sees India one of the world’s fastest-growing energy consumers as a strategic partner.
Earlier this year, Energy Minister Tim Hodgson visited India, and both governments issued a joint statement highlighting opportunities to expand oil and gas trade. Officials described the partnership as “natural and symbiotic,” citing India’s rising demand for hydrocarbons and Canada’s stable production capacity.
Carney’s itinerary in Mumbai includes a cultural exhibition, participation in an innovation showcase, and remarks at the Canada-India Growth and Investment Forum an event expected to bring together leading executives and policymakers from both nations.
While economic cooperation is front and centre, security issues continue to shape the bilateral dialogue. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree recently said Ottawa remains concerned about threats facing Canada’s Sikh community, including transnational organized crime and activities linked to foreign actors.
He noted that discussions with Indian officials on security matters remain “robust,” underscoring the complexity of balancing economic engagement with domestic safety concerns.
Notably, Carney’s visit will not include a stop in Punjab a province often featured in previous Canadian prime ministerial trips due to the significant Punjabi and Sikh diaspora in Canada. The omission reflects the government’s effort to focus the visit squarely on economic diplomacy.
Relations began to stabilize last year when Carney invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend the G7 Summit in Alberta widely viewed as a diplomatic reset. Since then, ministerial exchanges have multiplied, signaling mutual interest in rebuilding trust.
Carney is scheduled to meet Modi in New Delhi later during his India visit, where discussions are expected to cover trade, energy security, and technological cooperation.
Following his India stop, the prime minister will travel to Australia and Japan, continuing his broader strategy to strengthen Canada’s economic partnerships across the Indo-Pacific region.
As Ottawa recalibrates its foreign policy priorities, Carney’s India visit represents both a diplomatic test and an economic opportunity one aimed at restoring confidence while unlocking new avenues for growth between two major democracies.
