New Delhi, Sep 20 (UNI) Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s bilateral with Canadian PM Mike Carney in June, one the sidelines of the G7 in Canada, both nations are taking much-needed steps to push forward their stalled ties, with their NSAs and senior officials holding meetings in New Delhi.
The meetings, held on September 18 and 19, come in the wake of the two nations reinstating their high commissioners, with Dinesh Patnaik taking over in Ottawa and his Canadian counterpart Christopher Cooter arriving in New Delhi.
The appointment of high commissioners to each other’s countries comes after an absence of nearly 11 months, marking a major thaw in the relations, which had deteriorated remarkably in the reign of former PM Justin Trudeau due to his pandering to Khalistani elements.
During the talks between National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his Canadian counterpart Nathalie G. Drouin on September 18, the two sides acknowledged the clear momentum for rebuilding trust and expanding cooperation, and adopt a collaborative approach towards a new chapter in bilateral relations.
The visit of the Canadian National Security and Intelligence Adviser to Delhi was a part of the regular bilateral security dialogue between the two sides.
It was also an opportunity to follow-up on the discussions between the Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, in Alberta, Canada, in June this year.
Both sides acknowledged the clear momentum for rebuilding trust and expanding cooperation at the highest levels of political leadership, a statement said.
They had productive discussions on advancing the bilateral relationship including in areas such as counter terrorism, combating transnational organised crime and intelligence exchanges.
The two sides agreed to strengthen security cooperation and further reinforce existing mechanisms of engagement. The two NSAs also deliberated on the priority areas for future cooperation and exchanged views on regional and global developments.
The two sides agreed to work closely on the way forward and adopt a collaborative approach towards a new chapter in bilateral relations, the statement added.
Separately, on Friday, September 19, officials of the Ministry of External Affairs of India and Global Affairs Canada held pre-Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in New Delhi.
The Indian delegation for the pre-FOC consultations was led by Secretary (East) P. Kumaran, while the Canadian side was led by Deputy Foreign Minister, David Morrison.
The pre-consultations follow the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Mark Carney on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada, on June 17.
The discussions provided an opportunity to review the state of India–Canada bilateral relations and exchange views on other international and regional issues.
Both sides reaffirmed the importance of India–Canada ties, anchored in shared democratic values, respect for the rule of law, and commitment to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. They also welcomed the progress achieved since June 2025, including the return of High Commissioners to each other’s capitals.
In line with the understanding reached between the two Prime Ministers to restore stability in the relationship and pursue a constructive and balanced partnership, the two sides agreed to initiate necessary steps to reactivate bilateral dialogue mechanisms across diverse domains, including trade, defence, energy, civil nuclear, security and law enforcement, critical minerals, space, science and technology, and agriculture.
To support the strong people-to-people linkages, and expanding economic opportunities between India and Canada, both sides also decided to constructively address capacity-related issues at their respective Missions and Consulates.
Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison also had an opportunity to separately meet with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
