External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to visit Canada next week to attend the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in the Niagara region of Ontario on November 11-12. This visit is viewed as a significant step in consolidating the renewed diplomatic engagement between India and Canada.
India, though not a member of the G7, has become a regular invitee to these gatherings. This year's meeting, hosted by Canada, which holds the G7 presidency, will focus on global challenges and strengthening international collaboration. Discussions are expected to address pressing global issues, including the Indo-Pacific region, the conflict in Ukraine, and supply chain resilience. The G7 consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States, with representatives from the European Union also participating. Foreign ministers from non-G7 countries, including Australia, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, and Ukraine, have also been invited.
Jaishankar's visit to Canada signals a further thaw in relations between the two nations, which experienced a period of diplomatic strain in recent years. Relations between India and Canada had deteriorated in 2023-24. However, since Prime Minister Mark Carney assumed office in Canada in March 2025, both countries have been working to rebuild trust and strengthen bilateral ties. Carney's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in June laid the groundwork for improved relations. Both leaders directed their governments to take calibrated measures to restore stability and pursue a partnership grounded in mutual respect and shared interests.
In October, Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand visited India, meeting with Modi, Jaishankar, and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. This visit and the meetings led to the revival of key bilateral mechanisms such as the Energy Dialogue and the Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee, considered pillars of a renewed partnership.
During his visit, Jaishankar is expected to hold bilateral meetings with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand and possibly meet with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa. They are likely to discuss bilateral relations, trade ties, and cooperation in energy and technology. A meeting between Anand and Jaishankar in Canada would be their first bilateral engagement on Canadian soil. Both nations reinstated their high commissioners in August, restoring full diplomatic representation. New Delhi and Ottawa have agreed to resume trade and investment negotiations.
