OTTAWA (Rajeev Sharma) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to depart for Mumbai, India, at 10:00 a.m. local time today, Thursday, February 26, 2026, marking the start of a high-stakes diplomatic mission across the Indo-Pacific. This ten-day tour, which includes high-level stops in India, Australia, and Japan, represents Carney’s first major international foray since succeeding Justin Trudeau. The mission is designed to signal a robust shift in Canada’s foreign policy, focusing on economic resilience, defense cooperation, and the diversification of trade in an increasingly volatile global landscape.
The Prime Minister’s itinerary begins in Mumbai, the financial heart of India, where he will engage with top business executives to scout investment opportunities for Canadian firms. He will then travel to New Delhi for a pivotal summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders are expected to announce ambitious new partnerships in artificial intelligence, clean energy, and defense technology. A major priority for the New Delhi talks is the acceleration of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), a landmark trade deal aimed at more than doubling two-way trade from the current $31 billion to $70 billion by the year 2030.
Following the India leg of the journey, Carney will head to Sydney and Canberra to meet with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. In a historic move, Carney will become the first Canadian leader in nearly two decades to address both Houses of the Australian Parliament. The Australian segment will focus heavily on maritime security, critical minerals, and advanced technology. The tour concludes in Tokyo, where Carney will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae to strengthen manufacturing partnerships and secure clean energy supply chains, reinforcing Canada’s role as a reliable partner in a free and open Indo-Pacific.
In a statement released prior to his departure, Prime Minister Carney emphasized that in a more divided world, Canada must focus on building its strength at home while attracting massive international investment. He noted that Canada possesses the abundant energy and world-class talent that global partners are seeking. By forging these new connections, the administration aims to create greater certainty and prosperity for Canadian workers. As the Prime Minister’s aircraft readies for takeoff, the international community is watching closely to see how this mission will redefine Canada’s influence in the world’s fastest-growing economic region.
