India and Canada have decided to fully restore their diplomatic relations. Both countries will appoint new high commissioners after months of tension and silence between their governments.
Breakthrough at the G7 Summit
This major step came during a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney at the G7 Summit in Kananaskis.
After the meeting, the Canadian Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that both leaders agreed to return to normal diplomatic relations. They will now fill the diplomatic positions that were left vacant after both sides expelled each other’s envoys last year.
The Root of the Dispute
In 2024, former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused Indian diplomats of supporting violent actions, including harassment and threats, against Canadians.
Following these serious allegations, the Canadian government refused to remove diplomatic immunity for Indian officials. Then-foreign affairs minister Melanie Joly referred to “a number of violent incidents” as the reason for this decision.
India quickly reacted. It withdrew six Indian diplomats from Canada and expelled an equal number of Canadian envoys from India. These actions froze diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
At the time, Trudeau stated, “It is obvious that the government of India made a fundamental error in thinking that they could engage in supporting criminal activity against Canadians here on Canadian soil, whether it be murders or extortion or other violent acts.”
Since then, all high-level talks between the nations had stopped.
A New Beginning with New Leaders
Prime Minister Modi’s recent meeting with Mark Carney is now seen as a turning point. Modi described the discussions as “excellent” and highlighted shared values between the two countries.
He said, “India and Canada are connected by a strong belief in democracy, freedom and rule of law.” He also added, “PM Carney and I look forward to working closely to add momentum to the India-Canada friendship.”
In response, Carney said it was his “great honour” to welcome Modi at the G7 Summit. He remarked, “It’s a testament to the importance of your country, to your leadership, and to the importance of the issues that we look to tackle together — from energy security and AI to the fight against transnational repression and terrorism.”
Diplomatic Relations Move Forward
The decision to appoint new envoys marks the beginning of renewed trust and cooperation. Both India and Canada seem ready to move forward and focus on common goals, such as global security, emerging technologies, and counterterrorism efforts.
This renewed engagement signals that both governments are committed to repairing and strengthening their bilateral relationship after a year of silence and mistrust.