How India and Canada mended their frayed ties, Pg19

Key Highlights:

• Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is visiting India to improve bilateral relations after a period of strain.
• Relations deteriorated in 2023 due to allegations by then PM Justin Trudeau regarding the killing of Hardeep Nijjar.
• Carney succeeded Trudeau in March 2025 and prioritized resetting ties with India.
• India and Canada aim to double two-way trade to $70 billion by 2030 through a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
• Over 3.92 lakh Indian students were studying in Canada as of December 31, 2024.

Detailed Insights:

• The diplomatic crisis in 2023 led to the expulsion of diplomats and closure of consulates, impacting political, economic, and people-to-people ties.
• Carney's approach involves treating the Nijjar killing as a law enforcement issue separate from political and economic relations.
• A framework under the National Security Advisors has been created to discuss concerns related to pro-Khalistani activities in Canada.
• India was Canada’s seventh-largest goods and services trading partner in 2024, with two-way trade at $30.8 billion.
• Canada is the 17th largest foreign investor in India, with cumulative investments of $4.18 billion from April 2000 to June 2025.
• India and Canada cooperate on global security issues through the Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism.
• Canada is home to a large Indian diaspora of over 1.8 million Indo-Canadians and approximately a million non-resident Indians.
• Canada, India, and Australia have formed a trilateral technology and innovation partnership.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement: A trade agreement to reduce barriers and increase economic cooperation between countries.
• Diaspora: A group of people who live outside their ancestral homeland.
• Bilateral Relationship: Diplomatic, economic, or cultural relations between two countries.