India and Canada signal a diplomatic reset as foreign ministers Jaishankar and Anand discuss rebuilding ties, economic cooperation, and appointing new envoys.
A New Chapter: India and Canada Begin Diplomatic Reset
India and Canada have taken a significant step toward repairing their strained relationship, with the first high-level diplomatic contact since Mark Carney assumed office as Canada’s Prime Minister. On Sunday, India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar spoke with his Canadian counterpart, Anita Anand, marking a potential turning point after years of tension.
Key Diplomatic Engagement Raises Hopes
During the call, Jaishankar and Anand discussed the prospects for India-Canada relations. Jaishankar wished Anand a successful tenure, while Anand, whose family roots trace back to India, described the conversation as productive. She expressed her eagerness to strengthen bilateral ties, deepen economic cooperation, and pursue shared priorities.
This conversation is the highest-level engagement between the two countries since Carney’s election, signaling cautious optimism in both capitals about a diplomatic reset.
Background: Years of Strained Ties
Relations between India and Canada deteriorated sharply during former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s tenure, especially after Ottawa accused Indian agents of involvement in the 2023 killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver. India firmly denied the allegations, calling them “absurd and motivated,” and pointed to Canada’s leniency toward pro-Khalistan elements.
The diplomatic fallout led to both countries expelling senior diplomats and a freeze in high-level contacts. The rift deepened when Canadian authorities linked Indian diplomats, including then-High Commissioner Sanjay Verma, to the Nijjar case, prompting further expulsions on both sides.
Signals of Progress and Next Steps
With Mark Carney’s new government prioritizing a pragmatic approach to foreign policy, both nations are now exploring ways to restore trust and cooperation. Discussions are underway to reinstate their High Commissioners by June, a move that would symbolize renewed commitment to dialogue and engagement.
Anand, a senior Liberal Party member and former Defence Minister, brings personal and political significance to the process, having taken her oath of office on the Bhagavad Gita—a gesture reflecting her Indian heritage.
Looking Ahead: Economic and Strategic Collaboration
The leadership change in Canada has injected optimism into bilateral relations. Both countries are keen to move past recent hostilities and focus on economic collaboration, trade diversification, and shared strategic interests in a shifting global landscape.
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