Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to Embark on Crucial Three-Day Visit to India
In a significant diplomatic move, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will undertake a three-day official visit to India starting this week, as confirmed by an official announcement from Ottawa. This high-profile trip marks Carney's first visit to India as Prime Minister and is poised to address critical bilateral issues while aiming to reset a relationship that faced strain following the 2023 killing of a Sikh separatist.
Itinerary and Key Meetings
The visit will commence with Carney spending two days in Mumbai, where he is expected to engage with business leaders and explore investment opportunities. Subsequently, he will arrive in New Delhi on March 2, 2026, for a pivotal bilateral meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This summit is anticipated to play a crucial role in cementing and revitalizing the Canada-India partnership, with a focus on moving past recent tensions.
Agenda: Trade, Energy, Defence, and Technology
The discussions between the two leaders are set to cover a broad spectrum of issues, with security, energy, trade, defence, and technology likely dominating the agenda. A primary objective will be to review efforts toward establishing a framework for a comprehensive economic partnership agreement. Both nations are looking to initiate fresh negotiations for a trade pact that aims to enable an ambitious $50 billion in annual trade by the year 2050, signaling a long-term commitment to economic collaboration.
Notably, a 10-year agreement for uranium procurement by India from Canada is expected to be signed during the visit, highlighting the strategic energy cooperation between the two countries. This deal underscores India's efforts to diversify its energy sources and Canada's role as a key supplier.
Elevating Bilateral Relations
According to Canadian officials, the leaders will concentrate on elevating and expanding the Canada-India relationship through ambitious new partnerships. These include collaborations in trade, energy, technology and artificial intelligence (AI), talent and culture, and defence. Carney's meetings with business leaders in Mumbai are designed to identify investment opportunities in Canada and foster new business partnerships between the two nations, thereby boosting economic resilience and growth.
Broader Indo-Pacific Strategy
This visit is part of Carney's broader diplomatic tour, which also includes stops in Australia and Japan from February 26 to March 7, 2026. In a statement, Carney's office emphasized that "in a more divided and uncertain world, Canada's new government is focused on what we can control. We are building a stronger, more independent, and more resilient economy." The statement further noted that the Prime Minister aims to "unlock new opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses across trade, energy, technology, and defence" by deepening regional ties with key Indo-Pacific partners, which are critical to Canada's security and prosperity.
The visit to India, as one of Canada's strongest Indo-Pacific allies, is seen as a strategic step to diversify trade abroad and attract international investment, reinforcing Canada's position in the global arena. As both nations navigate complex geopolitical landscapes, this engagement is expected to lay the groundwork for a more robust and multifaceted partnership in the years to come.
