Carney in India to deepen engagement after Canada-India strain
NEW DELHI — After recalibrating ties with China, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is shifting focus to India. He will visit from Feb 26 as part of a three-country tour that also includes Australia and Japan. Ottawa wants deeper engagement with key regional powers as the strategic landscape changes.
Why India is next on Carney’s Asia agenda
Carney’s India stop highlights a push to strengthen links with major Indo-Pacific partners. It follows his broader effort to adjust Canada’s approach in Asia. Middle powers are seeking more room to manoeuvre as trade and security pressures rise.
A security channel meant to keep disputes contained
The trip comes weeks after Canada hosted Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval in early February. During that visit, India and Canada agreed on a “shared work plan” for cooperation on national security and law enforcement.
Both governments appear to want sensitive issues handled through formal security channels. One priority is the Khalistan separatist movement, which seeks a Sikh homeland and has long been a point of tension. The goal is to stop a single incident from overwhelming the wider relationship.
Drugs and organised crime on the agenda
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said both sides will also facilitate communication on the “illegal flow of drugs.” The focus includes fentanyl precursors, which are chemical inputs used to produce fentanyl, and transnational organised criminal networks. The statement signals a shared interest in practical cooperation between agencies.
The rupture after the 2023 killing near Vancouver
Canada-India ties deteriorated after Ottawa accused New Delhi of complicity in the 2023 killing of a Canadian Sikh separatist outside Vancouver. That allegation triggered a sharp downturn in relations. It also pushed security concerns to the centre of the bilateral agenda.
A wider recalibration beyond India
Since taking office in March 2025, Carney has pursued a policy of rapprochement with partners in Asia. The approach reflects a drive among middle powers to deepen ties with one another. It also aligns with efforts to recalibrate relationships with China and reduce dependence on the United States amid trade tensions under the Trump administration.
Carney’s India visit, paired with stops in Australia and Japan, signals a diplomatic push built around security coordination and regional partnerships. The “shared work plan” and the focus on drugs and organised crime show where both sides see space to move forward, even as unresolved disputes remain part of the backdrop
