Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney has arrived in India on a key trip to strengthen ties and diversify trade away from the United States.
He landed in Mumbai on Friday and will meet business leaders before talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday. Topics include commerce, energy, AI, technology, and defence.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs called it a “significant step” for relations.
“The India–Canada partnership is anchored in shared democratic values, strong people-to-people ties, and expanding cooperation across diverse sectors,” said Randhir Jaiswal, India’s foreign ministry spokesperson, posting on X.
The move follows U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminium, and auto parts. Carney aims to double non-U.S. exports in a decade and lift India trade to over $50 billion by 2030 via renewed free-trade talks.
India seeks more investment. Canadian funds have committed $73 billion, and the energy-hungry economy wants nuclear aid for 22 GW expansion.
Relations hit lows after the 2023 killing of Khalistan advocate Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canada blamed India, which denied it, sparking diplomat expulsions.
“That is always at the forefront of our minds,” Foreign Minister Anita Anand said of repression concerns.
Carney heads next to Australia for defence talks, then Japan for EV and energy deals.