NEW DELHI — India and Canada announced a series of bilateral agreements on Monday, including a landmark 10-year civil nuclear energy deal, as Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Mark Carney met in an effort to mend ties that had soured over diplomatic accusations.
The leaders also pledged deeper cooperation in technology, critical minerals, space exploration, defense, and education. Mr. Carney said the two nations had agreed to finalize a long-negotiated free trade agreement by the end of 2026, a move aimed at reducing their economic exposure to punitive U.S. tariffs.
The meeting marked a significant thaw in relations, which plunged to a low point under Mr. Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau. In 2023, Mr. Trudeau publicly alleged that Indian agents were linked to the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and Sikh separatist leader, on Canadian soil. India vehemently denied the accusation.
In the aftermath, diplomatic hostilities escalated, with both nations expelling senior envoys and suspending visa services, bringing trade and diplomatic engagement to a near standstill.
Since taking office last year, however, Mr. Carney has worked to cautiously rebuild the relationship. His government has indicated it does not currently believe India is involved in violent crimes or threats on Canadian soil, removing a key obstacle to rapprochement. Four men have been charged in connection with Mr. Nijjar’s killing, and the case remains before the courts.
Speaking to reporters after the talks at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, Mr. Modi described the civil nuclear agreement as a “landmark deal for long-term uranium supply,” and said the countries would also collaborate on small modular reactors and advanced reactor technology. He characterized India and Canada as “natural partners in technology and innovation,” announcing enhanced cooperation in artificial intelligence, supercomputing, and semiconductors, as well as plans to co-host a renewable energy summit.
Mr. Carney said Canada was well-positioned to help meet India’s growing demand for nuclear fuel and announced the launch of a strategic energy partnership. He underscored the dramatic turnaround in bilateral engagement.
“There has been more engagement between the Canadian and Indian governments in the last year than there has been in more than two decades combined,” Mr. Carney said.
On trade, Mr. Modi set a target of reaching $50 billion in bilateral commerce and emphasized the goal of finalizing a comprehensive economic partnership agreement. Mr. Carney expressed hope for concluding the deal—which has been discussed intermittently for 15 years—by year’s end, calling it an “ambitious agreement.”
Analysts view Mr. Carney’s outreach as a pragmatic response to shifting global dynamics, as Western nations seek to diversify supply chains and reduce dependencies. For India, the deal offers an opportunity to expand trade partnerships and lessen its reliance on Russian energy imports.
Earlier in the day, Mr. Carney met with India’s Foreign Minister, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, to discuss charting a “forward-looking partnership.”
The prime minister’s four-day visit began in Mumbai, the financial capital, where he met with business leaders and ministers on Feb. 28 to explore avenues for boosting trade and investment. Following his meetings in New Delhi, Mr. Carney is scheduled to travel to Australia and Japan as part of a broader strategy to diversify Canada’s trade relationships and attract new investment.
