Diplomatic personnel have been sent back to their respective countries as Carney (Canada) and Modi (India) establish a renewed focus, overlooking the recent disagreement.

In March, fresh prime minister Mark Carney welcomed Narendra Modi to the Canadian Rockies for a rendezvous at the Group of Seven major economies summit.

Previously, Carney's predecessor Justin Trudeau publicly accused India of having a hand in the on-Canadian soil assassination of a Sikh separatist. Consequentially, the Indian ambassador got the boot, sparking an infuriated reaction from India.

Now, Carney and Modi have agreed to bring new high commissioners to the table—diplomats known across Commonwealth nations—hoping to restore regular operations for citizens and businesses. Carney expressed his hope that the meeting would serve to "establish the foundation for rebuilding the relationship, built on mutual respect, sovereignty, trust."

At a press conference, he described the encounter as "foundational" and a "needed first step, an open exchange of views on law enforcement and transnational repression." He highlighted India's economic clout as the reason for their annual G7 invitations.

This disagreement had brought diplomatic relations to a grinding halt, evoking a trade value of approximately $9 billion in 2023 and both countries sharing strong cultural bonds due to Canada's sizeable Indian diaspora. Canada temporarily halted in-person services at all missions in India, except in New Delhi's embassy.

As Modi met Carney at the picturesque resort, Modi took a conciliatory stance, stating both nations were "committed to democratic principles." He congratulated Carney on his Liberal Party's electoral victory and was optimistic about future collaborations between India and Canada to advance their partnership.

However, not everyone was pleased. Sikh demonstrators hit the streets of Calgary, the nearest large city to the summit, with criticisms against Carney for inviting Modi, who often attends major international gatherings despite criticism of his Hindu nationalist government's human rights record.

The left-wing New Democratic Party, the fourth largest party in parliament, denounced Modi's presence and raised concerns about surveillance allegations against their former leader Jagmeet Singh. Prior to the visit, the party released a statement stating, "Continuing to engage Modi's government without accountability undermines all efforts to uphold human rights, transparency, and the rule of law."

Canada is home to the largest Sikh population outside India, accounting for around 2% of the country's populace and primarily residing in suburban swing areas. Exerting growing political influence, they have garnered attention following the 2023 shooting of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh activist advocating for an independent Sikh state, Khalistan, in a British Columbia Sikh temple.

Trudeau accused Indian agents of being behind the assassination. Canada has also accused India of targeting Sikh activists with a broader campaign of intimidation. India denied any involvement in the killing and urged Canada to take action against violent advocates of Khalistan.

Carney refrained from addressing Nijjar's case specifically during his discussions with Modi, citing the case as being under legal review.

The US, which enjoys a warm relationship with India, has also alleged an Indian agent's role in an unsuccessful plot against a Sikh separatist on American soil; however, unlike Trudeau, they have dealt with these concerns more discreetly.

The incident has left significant impact on Canada-India relations, but the current agreement points toward a deliberate effort to mend diplomatic ties. Both countries are focusing on reinstating diplomatic representation, resuming trade, and fostering a broader partnership across various domains, including economic growth, supply chain resilience, energy transition, digital transformation, food security, and critical minerals. They also aim to restart negotiations on a trade agreement framework, including the Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA) and making headway toward a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).

Despite the historical disagreement between Canada and India, which had a significant impact on their trade value of around $9 billion in 2023, the new prime minister, Mark Carney, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have agreed to restore regular operations for citizens and businesses.
As the United States enjoys a warm relationship with India, it has also faced similar incidents involving Indian agents and Sikh separatists on American soil, yet they have chosen to address these concerns more discreetly.
Beyond diplomatic representation and trade, Canada and India are aiming to expand their partnership across various domains, including economic growth, supply chain resilience, energy transition, digital transformation, food security, and critical minerals.
In a press conference, Prime Minister Carney expressed his hope that the meeting with Prime Minister Modi would establish the foundation for rebuilding the relationship, emphasizing mutual respect, sovereignty, trust, and open exchanges of views on law enforcement and transnational repression, particularly in human rights matters.

Diplomatic personnel have been sent back to their respective countries as Carney (Canada) and Modi (India) establish a renewed focus, overlooking the recent disagreement.