India and Canada announced on Monday that they have reached a consensus on a new roadmap to revive bilateral relations, signaling a reset after years of strained ties during the tenure of former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The agreement came following talks in New Delhi between Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and Canadian counterpart Anita Anand. In a joint statement, both ministers emphasized their commitment to rebuilding trust and advancing cooperation based on “mutual respect for shared democratic values, the rule of law, and a commitment to upholding the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.”
Jaishankar highlighted that the relationship has been steadily improving over the past two months and emphasized the importance of restoring and reinvigorating mechanisms necessary to advance the partnership. The ministers stressed that a “robust and resilient bilateral relationship” is crucial in the context of current global economic uncertainty and rising geopolitical tensions.
The move comes after a period of heightened diplomatic strain between the two countries. Relations deteriorated following the G20 summit in India in 2023, when Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised concerns about extremist activities in Canada. Tensions reached a peak in October 2024, when Canada accused Indian diplomats of involvement in targeting Sikh activists, leading to reciprocal expulsions of diplomats.
In addition to the roadmap, New Delhi and Ottawa agreed to strengthen their diplomatic missions. The joint statement said both high commissions and consulates will “progressively deploy expertise in the economic, political, defence, and technology domains” to support a shared ambitious agenda.
The reset builds on discussions between Prime Minister Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 summit in June, where both leaders expressed intent to restore ties and expand cooperation across multiple sectors. The announcement marks a significant step toward stabilizing a relationship that has experienced several years of challenges.
