(MENAFN) India and Canada have agreed to rebuild their deeply strained diplomatic relationship, unveiling a new strategic plan to strengthen cooperation across key sectors. The announcement followed high-level discussions in New Delhi on Monday between Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand.

In a joint statement, both governments confirmed they had “reached consensus on a new roadmap” aimed at revitalizing bilateral relations. The initiative marks a significant shift following a period of diplomatic friction that escalated during the tenure of former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The foreign ministers reaffirmed a commitment to restoring trust and deepening ties, emphasizing a shared foundation of democratic principles and sovereignty. “In keeping with the priorities that the prime ministers of India and Canada had set out for bringing momentum to the relationship, both sides, based on mutual respect for shared democratic values, the rule of law, and a commitment to upholding the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, reached consensus on a new roadmap for India-Canada relations,” the joint statement said.

The diplomatic thaw follows a pivotal meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during the G7 summit in June, where both leaders agreed to reset ties after a long period of tension.

Describing recent progress, Jaishankar said: “India-Canada bilateral relations have been steadily progressing in the last two months. We are working to restore and reinvigorate the mechanisms necessary to advance our partnership.”

Both ministers stressed that closer collaboration is critical given today’s global challenges. With ongoing geopolitical instability and economic volatility, they noted the importance of building a “robust and resilient bilateral relationship.”

Tensions between New Delhi and Ottawa peaked after the G20 summit in India in 2023. During a sideline meeting, Modi reportedly raised concerns with Trudeau about alleged anti-India activities by extremist groups operating in Canada. Diplomatic ties plunged further in October 2024 after Ottawa accused Indian agents of involvement in targeting Sikh activists—a claim that led to reciprocal diplomatic expulsions.

In a move to stabilize and enhance diplomatic engagement, both nations also pledged to boost their consular presence. “To this end, the ministers agreed that their high commissions and consulates will strengthen institutional capacity by progressively deploying expertise in the economic, political, defence, and technology domains to deliver on the shared ambitious agenda,” the joint statement read.

The renewed diplomatic push signals a turning point in India-Canada relations, with both capitals aiming to leave behind a period of mistrust and chart a forward-looking course.

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