Mumbai: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in India on Friday for a visit aimed at resetting diplomatic ties and doubling trade, following strained relations with the United States. Carney’s visit is seen as a pivotal step in mending relations that deteriorated in 2023 after Ottawa accused New Delhi of orchestrating a deadly campaign against Sikh activists in Canada.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Carney began his visit in Mumbai, where he addressed business leaders. He is scheduled to travel to New Delhi to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, marking the final day of his trip. The Indian foreign ministry described the visit as a “significant step” toward strengthening bilateral ties. Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal emphasized the shared democratic values and expanding cooperation between the two countries.
From Mumbai, Carney praised India’s rapid economic growth, highlighting the potential for new partnerships that would benefit Canadian workers and businesses. His office indicated that discussions would focus on ambitious new partnerships in various sectors, including trade, energy, technology and artificial intelligence, talent and culture, and defense.
Carney has expressed his goal to more than double the two-way trade with India to an annual target of $51 billion by 2030. India, in turn, seeks to attract more overseas investments and acknowledges that Canadian funds have already invested $73 billion in the country. Energy-hungry India hopes Canada can support its nuclear power expansion plans.
The diplomatic rift between the two nations began under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s administration, which accused India of involvement in the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen advocating for an independent Sikh state. The allegations led to a significant diplomatic fallout, with both nations expelling top diplomats in 2024. However, ties improved after Carney assumed office in March 2025, resulting in the restoration of envoys.
As part of his broader economic strategy, Carney plans to visit Australia and Japan after India. This is part of Canada’s initiative to diversify its economic partnerships and reduce over-reliance on the United States. In 2024, U.S.-Canada trade exceeded $900 billion despite tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has also threatened to dismantle broader trade agreements.
Carney’s strategy includes strengthening commerce with Europe and Asia, with an emphasis on critical mineral supply chains, a sector currently dominated by China. This initiative aligns with the concerns highlighted during Canada’s recent G7 presidency.