It is true under Carney, India and Canada are trying to repair ties that were strained when his predecessor accused New Delhi of a link to the 2023 assassination of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil.
Mark Carney is under mounting pressure to address whether he believes Indian interference in Canada remains a threat after he met with Narendra Modi, India’s prime minister, whose government is accused of orchestrating the killing a Canadian citizen.
“We are one family,” the Canadian prime minister said from New Delhi on Monday, capping a four day trade-focused trip meant reset relations with the world’s most populous nation.
Recent surveys suggest a majority of the Canadian public support re-engaging with India.
One such poll conducted by Angus Reid claimed that half of those questioned maintained it is the "right time" to restore ties.
Beyond #uranium, both nations have set an ambitious target to raise bilateral trade to USD 50 billion by 2030. #India, #Canada will also deepen cooperation in critical #minerals, #defence, #education and #renewableenergy.
At talks in Delhi, both Carney and Modi underscored India and Canada's long-standing relationship, mutual goals and close people-to-people ties.
The two countries have on Monday, March 2, announced a host of agreements, including a 10-year nuclear energy deal, after their prime ministers met in Delhi to reset ties that plummeted due to diplomatic tensions.
Narendra Modi and Mark Carney also struck agreement in areas such as technology, critical minerals, space, defence and education. On a visit to India, Carney said both sides agreed to conclude a free trade deal, years in the making, by the end of 2026.
Both countries want to reduce exposure to punitive US trade tariffs.
India vociferously rejected the allegation by Justin Trudeau. Trade and diplomatic relations almost came to a standstill as both sides expelled each other's diplomats and cancelled visa services. Canada hosts a huge expatriate Indian community.
But since Carney took office last year, the relationship has been cautiously rebuilt —helped by the fact that his government has said it believes India is not currently linked to violent crimes or threats on Canadian soil.
Following Carney's meeting with PM Modi on Monday, Canada's foreign minister Anita Anand distanced herself from comments made by a senior Canadian official saying that India had ceased all foreign interference in Canada.
Some in Canada have countered claim of Indian involvement.
However, a Liberal MP from Carney's own party and members of the Sikh diaspora in Canada say they believe they continue to be targeted by India.
Canada has defended the move to re-engage with India, saying "we need to have these diplomatic conversations in order to make progress".
Carney has not yet spoken to Canadian reporters since his trip began. His office cancelled a planned news conference following the meeting with Modi, citing his tight schedule.
The case of four men charged over Nijjar's killing is still before the courts.
"In civil nuclear energy, we have reached a landmark deal for long-term uranium supply. We will also work together on small modular reactors and advanced reactors," PM Modi said.
He described the two countries as "natural partners in technology and innovation" and said they would enhance co-operation in AI, supercomputing and semiconductors, as well as jointly host a renewable energy summit. On trade, Modi said: "Our target is to reach $50bn in bilateral trade. This is why we have decided to finalise a comprehensive economic partnership soon."
Carney said he wanted to reach a deal on the "ambitious agreement" by the end of the year. It's been discussed on-and-off for the past 15 years so concluding it would be a significant achievement.
Analysts say that Carney's decision to put diplomatic tensions behind him and extend an olive branch to India is a pragmatic one, based on present day geopolitical shifts.
The same holds true for India, which is looking to forge new trade partnerships to diversify its imports and also reduce its reliance on Russia for its energy needs.
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