G7 Summit: Modi holds talks with Canada’s Carney, aims to visit Canada by year end, sign trade deal soon
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the fringes of the G7 Summit in Evian in France. Discussions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held bilateral talks with his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the fringes of the G7 Summit in Evian in France. Discussions covered trade, economy, energy, technology and people-to-people ties, as per Mr. Modi. Prior to the meeting, Mr. Modi said he hoped to accept Mr. Carney’s invitation to visit Canada before the year ends, and to complete an India-Canada Free Trade Agreement (FTA) before then. “In less than a year, it is our fourth meeting, indicating our commitment to strong India-Canada ties. We reviewed the full range of relations between our nations, notably the ground covered since we last met,“ Mr. Modi said on X after the bilateral talks.
The other three meetings between the two men occurred in June last year at the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada and then the G20 Summit in November in Johannesburg. While India-Canada discussions on national security and foreign interference in Canada have continued under Mr. Carney, his visit to India in early 2026 completed a reset of ties between Ottawa and New Delhi that began when Mr. Carney took over from former Canadian premier Justin Trudeau. “We have been openly exchanging views on bilateral relations and international developments, and we are making significant progress as friendly countries,” Mr. Modi told Mr Carney on Tuesday, stressing the desire of India to advance technologically.
Canada could be a major partner in energy security, Mr. Modi said. Canada is one of the top energy exporters in the world — shipping oil, natural gas, petroleum products and uranium abroad. New Delhi and Ottawa decided to progress their Security Energy Partnership in March this year, under which Canada’s Cameco and the Department of Atomic Energy in India signed a CAD $2.6 billion commercial agreement for the long term supply (2027-2035) of uranium. In 2024, India had been accused by Canadian authorities of orchestrating acts of violence and extortion in Canada, with Mr. Trudeau alleging that Indian agents were behind the killing of a pro-Khalistan individual, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in British Columbia in three years prior.
New Delhi had accused the Canadian government of being soft on anti-India extremism including not adequately protecting its diplomatic personnel and assets. The two countries have been negotiating a free trade agreement, with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal visiting Canada last month with a delegation of over 100 industry representatives. Faced with U.S. tariffs and multiple jokes about annexation from U.S. President Donald Trump, Mr. Carney has sought to diversify Canada’s strategic and economic partnerships, deepening ties with China, India, Australia and Europe.
The BriefWire