India, Canada Agree to Boost Ties on Sidelines G7 Summit
The meeting took place just a month after Anand’s visit to New Delhi for bilateral talks.
New Delhi: External affairs minister S. Jaishankar met his Indian-origin Canadian counterpart Anita Anand on Wednesday in the Niagara region of Ontario province, on the sidelines of the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting in Canada.
According to a statement issued by the Government of Canada, the two ministers “discussed the progress being made on the Canada-India Joint Roadmap, which sets out a plan to enhance cooperation in key areas, including energy, trade, and people-to-people ties.” The statement further said both ministers “exchanged views on the ongoing law enforcement dialogue between Canadian and Indian authorities.”
It may be noted that India continues to express concerns over the activities of pro-Khalistan extremists in Canada.
During the meeting, Anand expressed her deepest condolences to Jaishankar for “those who were killed in the explosion in New Delhi on Monday” and reiterated that “Canada stands with the people of India during this tragic time.” The meeting took place just a month after Anand’s visit to New Delhi for bilateral talks.
Following the meeting, Jaishankar wrote on social media platform X (formerly Twitter): “Delighted to meet with FM @AnitaAnandMP of Canada today. Congratulated her on hosting the #G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Appreciated the progress in implementation of the New Roadmap 2025. Look forward to the further rebuilding of our bilateral partnership.”
Anand also posted on X: “Welcomed India’s External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar to #Niagara for the #G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. We discussed cooperation on trade, energy, security, and people-to-people ties.”
Last month, India and Canada had announced a “New Roadmap for India-Canada Relations”, based on mutual respect for shared democratic values, the rule of law, and a commitment to upholding sovereignty and territorial integrity.
While India is not a member of the G7 grouping, it is participating in the meeting as a guest country and special invitee, along with several other nations designated as “outreach partners.”
In a statement, Global Affairs Canada (GAC) said, “The Honourable Anita Anand, Minister of Foreign Affairs, was pleased to welcome today Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, to Canada for the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in the Niagara Region, where they met for the third time this year — a reflection of the momentum in the bilateral relationship. Minister Anand reiterated Canada’s appreciation of India’s participation in G7 discussions this year, recognising that, as the world’s fourth-largest economy and with a relationship built on more than 75 years of diplomatic ties, India is an important partner for Canada. The two ministers agreed to remain in touch as both countries continue to implement the Canada–India Roadmap.”
Earlier, New Delhi had said that the EAM’s participation in the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting “reflects India’s continued commitment to working with international partners to address global challenges and to amplify the voice of the Global South in international fora.” Jaishankar also held bilateral meetings with several of his counterparts attending the G7 event.
During their previous talks in New Delhi last month, both countries had taken major steps toward rebuilding relations, agreeing to deepen cooperation in sectors such as trade, oil and gas, civil nuclear energy, mining and critical minerals, clean technologies, environmental protection, electricity grid management, artificial intelligence (AI), digital infrastructure, education, tourism, cultural exchange, and professional mobility.
At that time, the two ministers had acknowledged that “in the context of ongoing global economic uncertainty and rising geopolitical tensions, a strong and resilient India-Canada bilateral relationship is essential.”
Relations between India and Canada had deteriorated sharply from September 2023, during the tenure of then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who accused India of involvement in the killing of Canadian citizen and pro-Khalistan extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023. India had dismissed the allegations as absurd and politically motivated. Bilateral ties have since improved following the appointment of Mark Carney as Canada’s Prime Minister in March 2025.
