New Delhi (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand begins her official visit to India today, with a focus on laying the groundwork for a long-term strategic partnership encompassing trade, energy, and security cooperation.
During her stay in New Delhi, Minister Anand is scheduled to meet with India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. These meetings are expected to pave the way for a formal framework to enhance bilateral engagement across multiple sectors.
Officials on both sides have emphasized that the talks aim to deepen economic links, broaden trade relations, and explore joint initiatives in renewable energy and security collaboration. Anand’s trip to India is part of her broader Asia tour, which also includes stops in Singapore and China.
A statement from the Canadian government noted that India will serve as the launchpad for Anand’s multi-nation visit, underscoring Ottawa’s growing interest in strengthening ties with New Delhi. “The discussions will reflect shared priorities such as economic resilience, clean energy innovation, and regional security,” the statement said.
Beyond the capital, the Canadian foreign minister will also travel to Mumbai, where she will engage with business leaders from both countries. These meetings aim to highlight the role of private sector cooperation in driving growth, innovation, and investment between Canada and India.
Anand’s visit follows a series of high-level diplomatic engagements, including a recent visit by Canadian National Security Adviser Nathalie Drouin to India, where she held talks with Indian NSA Ajit Doval. The two discussed regional and global security dynamics, marking a notable uptick in defense and intelligence dialogue between the two nations.
Shortly after those talks, Canada designated the Lawrence Bishnoi gang as a terrorist organization, citing its violent activities and efforts to spread fear across communities. This move has been interpreted as a gesture of alignment with Indian concerns on transnational crime and extremism.
Diplomatic observers see Anand’s visit as part of a broader attempt to reset the bilateral relationship, which had seen some turbulence in recent years. Her arrival comes months after a key interaction between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Canadian central bank governor Mark Carney during the G7 summit in Kananaskis, where they reportedly discussed ways to reinvigorate ties.
With geopolitics shifting in the Indo-Pacific and beyond, Anand’s engagements in India are likely to shape the contours of future cooperation between the two democracies.
