Authorities in Ottawa appear to be tempering earlier allegations of Indian interference as Prime Minister Mark Carney prepares for a high-profile visit to India. The trip aims to restore commercial ties after years of diplomatic strain.
Senior officials said Carney would likely not travel if Canada believed India was actively undermining its democracy. They described ongoing “systematic engagement” with the government of Narendra Modi at multiple levels. Officials stressed that Canada maintains strict safeguards against foreign interference.
The shift contrasts with claims made last year by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. The agency accused India of foreign interference and linked New Delhi to the 2023 killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver. India denied the allegations, and both nations expelled diplomats.
Carney will begin his visit in Mumbai before holding talks in New Delhi. His office said discussions will focus on trade, energy, technology, artificial intelligence, and defence cooperation.
Bilateral trade exceeds $21 billion annually. Both countries resumed negotiations on a proposed free-trade agreement, targeting $50 billion in trade by 2030. Canada is home to a large Indian diaspora and the world’s biggest Sikh community outside India, factors that continue to shape the relationship.
