Mumbai: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in India on Friday (February 27, 2026) with an aim to reset bilateral ties and expand trade engagement, as Ottawa seeks to offset the impact of its strained relations with the United States.
Mr. Carney landed in Mumbai, where he is scheduled to address business leaders and participate in key economic engagements. He will travel to New Delhi on Sunday (March 1) and is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (March 2).
Focus on trade and economic partnership
During his visit, Mr. Carney is expected to prioritise discussions on advancing negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Canada. Officials indicated that trade expansion, investment opportunities, and collaboration in critical sectors will form the core of talks.
The Canadian Prime Minister will also meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi. The two sides are expected to oversee the exchange of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) covering areas such as fossil fuel cooperation, nuclear energy, critical minerals and emerging technologies.
Mr. Carney is also scheduled to address the India-Canada CEO Forum, where business leaders from both countries will deliberate on strengthening commercial partnerships.
Attempt to move past recent tensions
The visit comes against the backdrop of several years of diplomatic strain between New Delhi and Ottawa. Relations had turned acrimonious during the tenure of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, particularly after the 2023 G-20 summit in India, when tensions escalated over the Khalistan issue.
Diplomatic rhetoric had hardened on both sides in the aftermath, leading to a slowdown in trade talks and cooperation initiatives. Mr. Carney’s visit is widely seen as an effort to rebuild trust and place bilateral ties back on a stable footing.
Officials say both sides are keen to compartmentalise political disagreements and focus on shared economic and strategic interests.
Broader geopolitical outreach
Mr. Carney’s India visit is part of a broader diplomatic outreach across the Indo-Pacific. After concluding engagements in New Delhi, he will travel to Australia to hold talks with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Discussions there are expected to cover defence and maritime security cooperation, critical minerals, trade, and advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence.
He is also scheduled to address the Australian Parliament before proceeding to Tokyo to meet Japan’s newly re-elected Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi.
The multi-nation tour reflects Canada’s attempt to diversify its strategic and economic partnerships amid shifting global dynamics.
Context of strained U.S. ties
The visit also follows a significant downturn in Canada’s ties with the United States over tariffs and counter-tariffs. U.S. President Donald Trump had publicly criticised Canada last year, referring to it as the United States’ “51st state”, further straining bilateral relations.
Additionally, Mr. Carney had visited Beijing last month, where Canada and China restored certain trade ties, visa processes and eased restrictions on Chinese electric vehicles after his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
Against this backdrop, India is seen as a crucial partner in Canada’s strategy to expand trade, secure supply chains for critical minerals and strengthen engagement in the Indo-Pacific region.
Mr. Carney’s meetings in New Delhi are expected to provide clarity on the future direction of India-Canada relations and whether both sides can turn a new page after recent diplomatic turbulence.