India and Canada are moving towards a significant new chapter in their bilateral relationship, with both nations committing to a collaborative approach. A key focus of this renewed partnership will be close cooperation on combating terrorism and transnational crimes, as confirmed by India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
These positive developments follow extensive discussions between India’s National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, and his Canadian counterpart, Nathalie Drouin, who met in New Delhi earlier this week. Their talks were crucial for mending strained ties, which had faced considerable pressure after a diplomatic dispute erupted in 2023 over the killing of a Sikh separatist.
The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted that these talks underscored a shared commitment to building trust and expanding high-level cooperation. This builds upon earlier conversations between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during the recent G-7 summit in Kananaskis, Canada, where both leaders agreed to take constructive steps toward stabilizing their relations.
The NSAs engaged in productive dialogues aimed at advancing the bilateral relationship. Specific areas of focus included enhanced counter-terrorism efforts, strategies to combat transnational organized crime, and robust intelligence sharing. Both officials agreed on the importance of strengthening security cooperation and fortifying existing engagement mechanisms between their respective countries.
Beyond immediate security concerns, Doval and Drouin also explored priority areas for future collaboration and exchanged valuable perspectives on evolving regional and global issues. These high-level discussions, occurring just weeks after both nations appointed new envoys, signal a deliberate and concerted effort to normalize and invigorate their diplomatic ties.
The relationship between India and Canada reached a challenging low point in 2023, following then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s public allegations suggesting a potential Indian government involvement in Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s death. This led to a series of diplomatic actions, including India recalling its High Commissioner and five diplomats from Ottawa and subsequently expelling a similar number of Canadian diplomats.
However, the recent political shift in Canada, marked by Liberal Party leader Mark Carney’s victory in the parliamentary election this past April, has been instrumental in initiating the current process of resetting and improving these crucial international relations.