External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand held wide-ranging talks in New Delhi on Monday, emphasizing the growing partnership between the two countries and unveiling an “ambitious roadmap” for collaboration across trade, energy, and security.
Jaishankar said India views Canada as a complementary economy and an open society, grounded in diversity and pluralism — foundations, he noted, that make the bilateral relationship “close, sustainable, and long-term.”
“When we look at Canada, we see a complementary economy, another open society, diversity and pluralism,” Jaishankar said. “These form the basis for a close, sustainable, and long-term cooperative framework.”
Strengthening a Renewed Partnership
The meeting marks Anita Anand’s first visit to India since taking charge as Canada’s foreign minister in May. She also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is scheduled to hold discussions with Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on enhancing two-way trade and investment.
“Our meeting today continues the constructive conversations we began in May,” Jaishankar said. “India-Canada relations have been steadily progressing over the last two months. We are working to restore and reinvigorate mechanisms necessary to advance our partnership.”
Anand’s India visit follows her government’s move to designate the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity, just weeks after security dialogues between the two nations’ national security advisors, Ajit Doval and Nathalie Drouin.
Focus on Trade, Energy, and Technology
Jaishankar said both sides have agreed on an extensive cooperation agenda across multiple sectors.
“We have prepared an ambitious roadmap to advance our cooperation in trade, investment, agriculture, science and technology, civil nuclear collaboration, AI, critical minerals, and energy,” he said.
He added that India and Canada aim to “de-risk the international economy” by forging stronger partnerships in a volatile global environment.
Anand, echoing the sentiment, emphasized the importance of sustained engagement on both economic and security fronts.
“While we elevate our relationship in critical minerals, energy, AI, and climate, the security dialogue will continue,” she said. “Both our governments agree on the importance of these dialogues.”
A New Phase of Re-Engagement
Anand said the joint statement emerging from the visit would outline mutual priorities and reaffirm long-term commitment in the Indo-Pacific region.
“It will inform Canadians and Indians alike that we are collectively committed to advancing this relationship now and in the long term,” she said.
Jaishankar described the discussions as “constructive and forward-looking,” adding that both nations were now positioned to rebuild trust and expand cooperation.
“We seek to de-risk the international economy by forging strong partnerships of growing range and depth,” he noted.
The meeting signals a significant reset in India-Canada ties, which have seen renewed diplomatic and strategic engagement over the past two months.
