Canada’s Mark Carney Hails Progress in Rebuilding India Ties

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Saturday emphasized the “progress” his government has achieved in rebuilding and strengthening ties with India. He spoke to reporters following the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea, where he described India as a key partner in Canada’s broader strategy to diversify trade and reduce dependence on the United States.

Carney, who assumed office in March 2025, noted that Canada is moving fast to establish new trade relationships across the Indo-Pacific — a region that accounts for 60 percent of the global economy. Alongside a newly signed free trade agreement with Indonesia and ongoing negotiations with the Philippines and Thailand, Carney described a “turning point” in Canada’s relationship with China.

“Progress which we have been making with India is especially encouraging,” he said. Though he did not meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the summit, Carney said his cabinet, including the foreign minister, had engaged deeply with Indian counterparts.

The Prime Minister reiterated that the government’s economic strategy focuses on boosting domestic resilience while building international partnerships. “It can’t happen overnight,” Carney said, “but we are moving very fast.”

His comments come amid renewed tensions with the United States. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump terminated trade negotiations with Canada, accusing Ottawa of “egregious behaviour” after an anti-tariff ad aired in Ontario. In response, Carney issued a public apology, though he remains committed to his goal of doubling Canada’s non-U.S. exports over the next decade.

Relations between Canada and India have improved considerably under Carney’s leadership. They had deteriorated after former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian agents of involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar — claims India dismissed as “absurd and motivated.”

A breakthrough came earlier this year when Carney met Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, paving the way for the restoration of high commissioners in both capitals. In October, Foreign Minister Anita Anand visited New Delhi, where she met with S. Jaishankar and Piyush Goyal. Both sides outlined a roadmap for cooperation in trade, critical minerals, and energy.

Looking ahead, Canada expects further high-level visits, and Carney has been invited to attend the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi in February 2026, a move seen as a meaningful gesture of growing bilateral trust.

“The Indo-Pacific presents enormous opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses,” Carney said. “Canada is ready to seize these opportunities — and play to win.”