India and Canada Forge Ahead with New Roadmap 2025 to Revitalize Bilateral Relations
Niagara, Canada - In a significant step towards mending strained ties, India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with his Canadian counterpart, Anita Anand, on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Niagara. The meeting served as an opportunity to discuss the progress and future direction of the "New Roadmap 2025," an initiative aimed at rebuilding and strengthening the bilateral partnership between India and Canada.
Jaishankar expressed his appreciation for the progress made under the New Roadmap 2025, which seeks to enhance cooperation across various sectors. Taking to social media platform X, he conveyed his congratulations to Anand for hosting the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting and reiterated his commitment to the further rebuilding of the bilateral partnership.
The meeting comes a month after Anand's visit to India, where both ministers agreed upon the ambitious roadmap designed to boost ties in areas including trade, critical minerals, and energy. During that visit, held on October 13, 2025, Jaishankar and Anand emphasized the necessity to "restore and reinvigorate" the mechanisms crucial for advancing the bilateral partnership. Both ministers acknowledged that a strong and resilient relationship between India and Canada is essential, particularly in the context of global economic uncertainty and rising geopolitical tensions.
A joint statement released after their discussions highlighted the consensus reached on the "New Roadmap" for India-Canada relations, founded on mutual respect for shared democratic values, the rule of law, and a commitment to upholding sovereignty and territorial integrity. The roadmap aligns with the priorities established by the Prime Ministers of both India and Canada to inject fresh momentum into the relationship.
The renewed focus on bilateral ties aims to unlock opportunities for enhanced economic cooperation, mitigate vulnerabilities arising from shifting global alliances, ensure more reliable supply chains, and reinforce strategic stability in an increasingly complex international environment. Both sides have agreed to commence ministerial-level discussions on bilateral trade and investment at an early date, taking into account global economic realities and each other's strategic priorities. Priorities for cooperation include agriculture, science and technology, civil nuclear collaboration, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and energy.
Earlier in June 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with his Canadian counterpart, Mark Carney, during the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada. This meeting was also geared towards reviving relations that have experienced strain in recent times.
Despite recent diplomatic challenges, economic and cultural connections between the two countries have remained resilient. In 2023, bilateral trade between India and Canada was valued at $9.36 billion, with Indian exports to Canada worth $5.56 billion and Canadian exports to India valued at $3.80 billion. As 2025 progresses, trade relations appear to be on a path of cautious recovery and strategic realignment. An Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) between India and Canada could serve as a strategic interim framework aimed at enhancing bilateral economic cooperation.
India's commitment to working with international partners to address global challenges and strengthen the voice of the Global South was reiterated by the Ministry of External Affairs. Jaishankar's participation in the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting reflects this commitment. The G7 gathering addresses pressing global economic and security challenges, including maritime security and prosperity, economic resilience, energy security, and critical minerals.
