Modi-Carney to reset ties at G7 in Canada, MEA says all issues of ‘mutual concern' to be raised
Canada will likely seek further cooperation between law-enforcement agencies, with particular reference to the killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023. The previous Canadian administration led by Justin Trudeau had alleged the Indian government was linked to the killing, a claim New Delhi strongly refuted.
All issues of 'mutual concern' will be raised during the meeting, the Ministry of External Affairs said. The issues, among others, include India's concerns about the space given by Ottawa to Sikh separatists and transnational organised crime gangs.
New Delhi: Ties between India and Canada, which have plummeted over the past year-and-a-half, are set for a reboot as Prime Minister Narendra Modi attends the G7 Summit in Alberta next week, and holds a bilateral meeting with his counterpart Mark Carney on the margins of the summit.
On June 6, Carney called PM Modi and invited him to the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta. Modi will be in Canada 16 and 17 June.
'Both leaders also had an opportunity to reflect on the India-Canada relationship and the way forward. India and Canada are vibrant democracies bound by shared democratic values, a steadfast commitment to the rule of law, and vibrant people-to-people ties,' MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told the weekly press briefing Thursday.
Jaiswal added, 'We believe that the forthcoming meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the G7 Summit will offer an important opportunity to exchange views on bilateral and global issues, and to explore pathways to reset the relationship based on mutual respect, shared interests, and sensitivity to each other's concerns. Our views on some of these issues have already been shared publicly in considerable detail.'
The potential thaw comes after months of frayed relations. The ties between the two countries hit rock bottom under the Trudeau administration in 2023, when he accused the Indian government of being linked to the killing of Nijjar.
Nijjar, an Indian-designated terrorist, was gunned down outside a Gurudwara 18 June 2023.
India has denied any links to his killing and is yet to receive any evidence from Ottawa supporting their charge. Last October, New Delhi expelled the acting high commissioner of Canada and five other diplomats from the country, while withdrawing its own high commissioner and five other diplomats from Canada.
Under Carney, Ottawa has signalled its intent to carve out the issue of Nijjar's killing from the overall ties. Carney announced last week that India and Canada will resume cooperation between law-enforcement agencies.
On Carney's statement, Jaiswal said, 'There are existing mechanisms between Indian and Canadian law-enforcement agencies that have discussed issues of mutual security concern over a period of time. This engagement is likely to continue.'
Modi's meeting with Carney is set to take place roughly a day or two before the anniversary of Nijjar's killing. The acceptance of the invitation by Modi to attend the G7 summit is a serious declaration of intent from New Delhi to reset ties.
For Canada, India has gained importance since the return of President Donald Trump to the White House. Trump has attacked Canada for its trade surplus with the US and has gone as far as labelling the country the 51st state of the United States of America.
Earlier this week, Carney announced that Canada will be investing close to $9 billion more in defence spending, with a view to diversify its security partnership away from the US. This leaves Canada with the European Union and India as other democratic options to increase its engagement with.
The Canadian prime minister has some political breathing room to act in a positive fashion with India, following the success of the Liberal Party in the recently concluded federal election.
The meeting between the two leaders may set the stage for the reappointment of high commissioners between the two countries and normalising diplomatic ties.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
Also Read: Fresh trouble hits India-Canada ties, New Delhi protests threatening language at Khalsa Day parade
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