India and Canada have agreed on a new roadmap to enhance bilateral relations, following talks between their foreign ministers in New Delhi. The move comes as both countries seek to mend ties strained over the killing of a Canadian Sikh separatist.
A joint statement said the two nations, looking to diversify trade away from the United States amid tariff announcements, will collaborate on critical minerals, trade, and agricultural value chains.
“Reinvigorating this partnership will open new avenues for economic collaboration while reducing risks linked to changing global dynamics,” the statement noted.
Two Years of Diplomatic Strain
The agreement follows a period of nearly two years of tension. Relations between New Delhi and Ottawa soured in 2023 after former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the killing of Canadian Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India denied the allegations and, in turn, accused Canada of harboring separatist groups on its soil.
On Monday, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
“Our governments share a mutual commitment to strengthening and advancing bilateral ties,” Anand remarked in her opening statement.
Economic and Strategic Ties
India remains Canada’s top source of temporary foreign workers and international students, as well as an important market for Canadian agricultural exports, including lentils and yellow peas.
Canada is home to a large Sikh community, and Indian officials note that some fringe groups within this community remain sympathetic to the cause of an independent Sikh state called Khalistan.
The new roadmap is seen as a step toward normalizing diplomatic relations and fostering economic, cultural, and strategic cooperation between the two nations.
(Source: Reuters)
