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Canada and India Rebuild Ties Through Trade, Security Cooperation
Canada and India had a serious disagreement after the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.
Canadian officials made allegations about possible Indian involvement, while the case is now before the courts.
The Canadian envoy said trust between the two governments has started to improve.
Their leaders and security officials have been speaking more regularly.
Both countries want to trade more, especially in energy, minerals and technology.
They also want to work together on defence and maritime security.
Canada hopes to sell more natural gas, oil, uranium and other resources to India.
The two countries are trying to complete a trade agreement and double trade by 2030.
Canada is also changing student rules and working to improve visa services for Indians.
Canadian High Commissioner Christopher Cooter said trust between India and Canada has improved through regular political and security contacts.
Canada and India aim to conclude a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement and double bilateral trade by 2030.
Cooter described Canada as a potential major supplier of energy, critical minerals, nuclear technology and other resources to India.
Canada and India are exploring greater defence and maritime cooperation, including private-sector collaboration and sensitive-information sharing.
Canada has tightened student and immigration-related rules while seeking to improve visas and maintain Indian student access.
- Who
- Canadian High Commissioner Christopher Cooter discussed India-Canada relations with The Indian Express diplomatic editor Shubhajit Roy; the governments of Canada and India are the principal parties.
- What
- The interview covered efforts to rebuild bilateral trust and expand cooperation in trade, energy, defence, security, education and visas.
- Where
- The discussion was held in India at an Idea Exchange event.
- When
- The discussion took place after Canadian Prime Minister Carney’s visit to India in March; the article also refers to goals for October, 2030 and beyond.
- Why
- The countries are seeking stronger ties amid past diplomatic tensions, global trade uncertainty, energy insecurity and changing security conditions.
Indian Concerns
Canadian Position
Khalistan-related activity
Indian Concerns
India has expressed concern about the political space given in Canada to separatist elements.
Canadian Position
Canada says freedom of expression must be protected in a democracy, while its agencies are taking the risks posed by Khalistan actors and past violence seriously.
Nijjar investigation and bilateral ties
Indian Concerns
The killing and Canadian allegations contributed to a major breakdown in official trust between the two countries.
Canadian Position
Canada says the killing is subject to a judicial process and that institutional links can help prevent the case and future incidents from derailing broader relations.
Student visas and access
Indian Concerns
Indian students have faced concerns about visas and the perception that Canada was becoming less open to them.
Canadian Position
Canada says it tightened rules because student numbers, housing shortages and low-quality colleges created problems, while insisting it still wants qualified Indian students and is working to improve visas.
Key facts
- Trade goal
- Canada and India’s prime ministers committed to doubling bilateral trade by 2030.
- Trade agreement
- The countries are seeking to conclude a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.
- Energy exports
- Canada said it could export 50 million tonnes of natural gas through its West Coast ports by 2030.
- Nuclear cooperation
- Canada said 18 of India’s 24 existing reactors are based on Canadian CANDU technology.
- Student population
- About 400,000 students from India are in Canada, according to the interview.
- Canadian diaspora
- Cooter said nearly two million people in Canada are part of the Indian diaspora.
- Security cooperation
- Canada said it has listed the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity and launched a financial crimes commission.
Quotes
Christopher Cooter
Canadian High Commissioner to India
“There was an absence of trust, which really broke down at the official level… There is remarkable progress in the last few months in getting to a place in which we’ve never really been before”
indianexpress.com
“There is always going to be an important Canadian-Chinese relationship. It will be different from the one that we have with you, different in quality and character”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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