Full Breakdown
India-Canada Strategic Partnership Talks Advance Trade and Security Cooperation
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – High-Level Meetings in New Delhi (October 14 2026)
On October 14 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand in New Delhi. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also held a parallel discussion with Anand. The sessions covered trade, technology, energy, defence, security, education and people-to-people exchanges, and reviewed regional developments such as the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia. The talks were framed as a step toward concluding the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and preparing for Modi’s planned visit to Canada in December 2026.
Background & Context
India and Canada relaunched their strategic partnership after a diplomatic chill following accusations in September 2023 that Indian agents were involved in the killing of Khalistani activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The reset accelerated after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s call for “middle powers” to safeguard multilateralism and his March 2024 visit to India. A joint roadmap for bilateral relations was signed in New Delhi in October 2025, setting out priorities in trade, energy, innovation and security.
Timeline
- October 5 2026: Canadian senior adviser David Morrison met India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, reviewing law-enforcement cooperation.
- October 13 2026: Anand began her India-UAE tour, with the New Delhi meetings scheduled for the following day.
- October 14 2026: Modi-Anand and Jaishankar-Anand meetings held; fifth round of CEPA talks completed in Ottawa a week earlier.
- December 2026 (planned): Prime Minister Modi’s official visit to Canada, expected to coincide with the EU-India free-trade agreement signing.
Data & Statistics
- Bilateral two-way trade reached US$30.4 billion in 2025, including US$11 billion in goods.
- Both governments target US$70 billion in trade by 2030.
- The “Team Canada Trade Mission” involves about 300 Canadian business delegates, the largest Canadian delegation to India in three decades.
- CEPA negotiations are in their fifth round, with an aim for an early conclusion by the end of 2026.
Official Statements & Responses
The Canadian readout highlighted Anand’s view of India as a “valuable partner” amid geopolitical uncertainty. The Ministry of External Affairs noted progress on the joint roadmap since its launch a year earlier.
Verbatim Quotes
- “India is committed to building a constructive and forward-looking strategic partnership with Canada that delivers tangible benefits to the people of both countries,” — Narendra Modi
- “Canada and India have enormous potential to shape a more prosperous future together,” — Anita Anand
- “We have the Canadian Trade Minister in town. Yesterday, I think he had a conversation with the commerce minister where discussions happened as to how to advance negotiations. This is now the fifth round of negotiations that happened in Ottawa, I think a week back or so. Both sides remain in touch to conclude a mutually beneficial CEPA agreement.” — Randhir Jaiswal, MEA spokesperson
What's Next
- December 2026: Modi’s visit to Canada, expected to feature the signing of the India-EU free-trade agreement and further CEPA discussions.
- End-2026: Target date for concluding CEPA negotiations.
- Ongoing: The Team Canada Trade Mission will continue engagements across aerospace, clean energy, technology, life sciences, agri-food and forestry.
- Security Dialogue: Bilateral security talks at the National Security Adviser level are planned, building on the October 5 meeting.