Finance
India and Canada held pre-Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in New Delhi and agreed to take the necessary steps to reactivate bilateral dialogue mechanisms in a variety of sectors, including trade, defense, energy, civil nuclear, security and law enforcement, critical minerals, space, science and technology, and agriculture.
During the discussion, officials from both countries emphasized the importance of India-Canada connections, which are founded on shared democratic ideals, respect for the rule of law, and adherence to the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“The discussions provided an opportunity to review the state of India–Canada bilateral relations and exchange views on other international and regional issues,” read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). statement.
The two sides welcomed the progress achieved since June 2025, including the return of High Commissioners to each other’s capitals. For the meeting, MEA Secretary (East) P Kumaran led the Indian side while the Canadian side was led by Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison.
The MEA statement added: “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.”
Canada’s Deputy Foreign Minister David Morrison also met Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
On Thursday, the National Security Advisors of both countries held talks on Thursday as part of the regular bilateral security consultations between Ottawa and New Delhi.
While addressing a weekly media briefing on Friday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated, “The NSA of Canada held talks with our National Security Advisor, I think it happened yesterday, 18th, this is part of the regular bilateral security consultations that happen between the two countries. It was also an opportunity and an occasion for them to follow up on the discussions that happened between Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Carney in Kananaskis on the sidelines of G7 in Alberta, Canada.”
PM Modi and Carney met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit with the goal of restoring their countries’ damaged relations. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri hailed the negotiations as “very positive and constructive” on June 18. As a first step, both presidents decided to re-establish High Commissioners in their respective capital cities as soon as possible.
Furthermore, the two countries agreed to restart senior and working-level procedures on multiple fronts. They also agreed to resume senior and working-level processes and conversations in a variety of areas such as trade, people-to-people contact, and connectivity, all with the goal of increasing momentum in the relationship.
Last month, India had announced that Dinesh K Patnaik, who earlier served as India’s Ambassador to Spain, has been appointed as the next High Commissioner to Canada.
The appointment comes more than ten months after New Delhi withdrew its former High Commissioner to Ottawa due to then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s persistent “hostility” towards India.
In October 2014, India withdrew High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma, one of the country’s most senior diplomats, citing the atmosphere of extremism and violence that had persisted under Trudeau’s tenure.
Relations between India and Canada had deteriorated when Trudeau said in the Canadian Parliament that he had “credible allegations” of India’s involvement in the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Source: IANS
