India and Canada Reset Ties with First Meeting Since Diplomatic Row

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney held a significant bilateral meeting on Tuesday during the G7 Summit in Alberta, marking the first direct engagement since tensions flared in 2023 over the killing of Canadian Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Despite strained relations, both leaders described the talks as productive and pledged to rebuild diplomatic ties.

Carney, who is chairing the G7 summit, extended a warm welcome to Modi, emphasizing India’s global role in trade and supply chains. His office confirmed that the two countries will appoint new envoys to replace those recalled during the diplomatic fallout. The leaders reaffirmed shared commitments to democracy, the rule of law, and national sovereignty.

Tensions had escalated after former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in Nijjar’s murder. India has strongly denied the allegations and criticized Canada for harboring Sikh separatists. Modi’s visit, his first to Canada in a decade, drew protests from the local Sikh community, with demonstrators tearing Indian flags in Calgary.

Despite political friction, economic ties remain strong. India is Canada’s top source of temporary foreign workers and international students. Canadian exporters, especially in agriculture, see opportunity in expanding trade. Greg Cherewyk, president of Pulse Canada, highlighted growing interest in boosting lentil exports to India.

Modi posted on X that the meeting was “excellent,” emphasizing shared democratic values. The two leaders made no public mention of the past diplomatic crisis but signaled a willingness to move forward.

Last year, Canada expelled six Indian diplomats and charged four individuals in connection with Nijjar’s murder. The summit signals a cautious but hopeful reset in India-Canada relations, driven by global strategic and economic considerations.