India, Canada Accelerate Strategic Partnership as Modi and Carney Push for Trade Deal by G20 Summit

Following the meeting, Carney stated in a post on X that he and Modi were “working at speed to unleash the potential of new partnerships between our nations — in energy, talent, and AI.” He described India as “the fastest-growing major economy in the world, and a powerhouse of global commerce and technology.”

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office of India, the two leaders reviewed progress in bilateral relations and discussed strengthening cooperation in energy, technology, trade, economic engagement, and people-to-people exchanges. A major focus of the discussions was the ongoing negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Both leaders expressed their desire to conclude the CEPA negotiations before the G20 Leaders’ Summit scheduled to be held in Miami in December. During the meeting, Modi also indicated that he would seek to visit Canada before the end of the year.

In a separate post on X, Modi highlighted the growing engagement between the two nations, stating that this was his fourth meeting with Carney in less than a year, reflecting their shared commitment to strong India-Canada relations. He said the leaders reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral ties and assessed the progress achieved so far.

The Canadian Prime Minister’s Office stated that both leaders expressed satisfaction with the advancement of CEPA negotiations and reaffirmed their commitment to building a forward-looking strategic partnership. The two sides also welcomed stronger institutional engagement, including recent meetings of the Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee and the Consular Dialogue.

The leaders further expressed their anticipation for upcoming dialogues in the fields of defence, finance, and migration. They also agreed to launch negotiations on a General Security of Information Agreement (GSOIA), while acknowledging the positive momentum in bilateral relations.

Modi reiterated India’s support for Canada’s bid to become a Dialogue Partner of the Indian Ocean Rim Association. The two countries also announced the establishment of Raisina Americas, a new platform aimed at strengthening dialogue, exchanges, and cooperation across multiple sectors.

When Modi’s proposed visit takes place, it will mark the first standalone bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Canada since April 2015, when Stephen Harper was serving as Canada’s Prime Minister. During the decade-long tenure of former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Modi did not undertake a bilateral visit to the country.

However, Modi visited Canada in June last year to attend the G7 Leaders’ Summit in Kananaskis after receiving an invitation from Carney. That invitation and the subsequent meeting between the two leaders at the Alberta summit became the catalyst for a broader reset in bilateral relations, paving the way for the current phase of renewed engagement.

The two leaders met twice more after that. In November, on the sidelines of the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, they announced the launch of fresh negotiations toward the CEPA. Carney later visited India between late February and early March, where both leaders further consolidated the renewed relationship through an ambitious joint statement focused on cooperation across a wide range of sectors.

The latest meeting in France highlights the rapid strengthening of India-Canada relations, with both governments pursuing an ambitious agenda encompassing trade, technology, security, diplomacy, and strategic cooperation. As negotiations advance and high-level engagements continue, the two nations appear determined to transform the recent diplomatic reset into a long-term strategic partnership.