Opinion | How PM Modi Scripted An Incredible Reset Of India-Canada Ties

What was unnecessarily marred for years by Justin Trudeau’s vile, politically motivated agenda has now been replaced by a mature, interest-driven strategic partnership

In the annals of Indian diplomacy, few turnarounds have been as dramatic — or as strategically masterful — as the revival of India’s ties with Canada. What began as a near-total breakdown in 2023 has, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s adroit leadership, transformed into a robust, forward-looking partnership by early 2026. This is not mere diplomacy; it is a masterclass in patience, pragmatism and national interest.

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The rupture was swift and ugly. In 2023, then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau levelled baseless allegations linking Indian officials to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani separatist designated as a terrorist by India. Diplomatic expulsions followed, high commissioners were withdrawn, and bilateral trust hit rock bottom. Trudeau’s approach was openly hostile, pandering to pro-Khalistani elements within Canada’s Sikh diaspora for electoral gains — a textbook case of vote-bank politics overriding strategic sense.

India was absolutely justified in calling out Trudeau’s mala fide designs. New Delhi refused to be lectured by a leader who allowed Canadian soil to become a safe haven for anti-India extremists. The pattern, tragically, was not new. Back in the 1980s, Justin’s father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, had shown similar leniency. Despite repeated appeals from Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to crack down on Khalistani terror networks, Pierre Trudeau’s government dragged its feet. The result? The horrific bombing of Air India Flight 182 (Kanishka) in June 1985, which killed 329 innocent people — one of the deadliest aviation terror attacks in history.

Canada’s failure to extradite key suspects such as Talwinder Parmar, and its soft stance on separatist rhetoric, directly contributed to the tragedy. History had repeated itself under his son, until PM Modi drew a firm line.

Enter Mark Carney: A Pragmatic Prime Minister

The turning point came with Canada’s leadership change. Justin Trudeau’s exit and the rise of Mark Carney as Prime Minister in March 2025 did Canada — and the bilateral relationship — a world of good. Carney, a seasoned economist and former central banker, brought a no-nonsense, results-oriented approach that stood in stark contrast to his predecessor’s toxicity.

Where Trudeau had chosen confrontation and ideological posturing, Carney chose pragmatism. His positive, forward-looking outreach was like a breath of fresh air in New Delhi. Gone were the grandstanding press conferences and diaspora appeasement; in their place came quiet, focused diplomacy centred on mutual economic and strategic gains. For India, it signalled that Canada was finally ready to treat a rising global power with the respect it deserved.

The G7 Invitation That Set the Ball Rolling

The reset truly gathered momentum in June 2025 — just weeks after India’s decisive Operation Sindoor, the precision military strikes that neutralised terror infrastructure in Pakistan following the horrific Pahalgam attack. Fresh from that assertive demonstration of national resolve, PM Modi received a warm invitation from Prime Minister Carney to attend the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Canada.

PM Modi was initially cautious. After two years of needless hostility, should he travel? Yet in Carney’s sincere and respectful invitation, he saw a genuine opening — an opportunity to reset ties on India’s terms, without compromising sovereignty or security concerns.

PM Modi accepted. His visit to Canada became the catalyst. Quiet conversations on the sidelines, renewed high-level channels, and a clear signal that both nations wanted to move forward ushered in the reset. What followed was a masterstroke of quiet diplomacy.

From Scepticism to Robust Partnership

In the span of barely a year, India and Canada have moved from deep scepticism to becoming reliable partners. Carney has been effusive in private and public about the enormous economic opportunity India represents. He has repeatedly praised PM Modi’s visionary policies — from economic reforms and infrastructure push to India’s emergence as a trusted technology and defence partner.

For Carney, a leader focused on Canada’s future prosperity amid global uncertainties, deeper engagement with the world’s fastest-growing major economy was a no-brainer.

Two major takeaways define this new chapter in India-Canada ties. First, optimising massive economic opportunities. Both sides have fast-tracked negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), with an ambitious target to conclude it by the end of 2026 and double bilateral trade to $50 billion by 2030.

Landmark deals in critical minerals, technology, AI, supply chains and, especially, a multi-billion-dollar long-term uranium supply agreement for India’s nuclear energy programme have been signed. Energy security, green hydrogen and defence cooperation are now firmly on the table. This is pragmatic economics at its best — India gains reliable resources and markets; Canada gains a massive growth partner.

Second, iron-clad assurances on Khalistani terrorism. India has received clear commitments that Canada will not allow its territory to be used as a base for anti-India activities. Dedicated national security and law-enforcement dialogues, reinstated high commissioners, and upgraded counter-terrorism mechanisms ensure that past frictions are compartmentalised and never allowed to derail the broader relationship again. The era of turning a blind eye to Khalistani extremists is over.

What was unnecessarily marred for years by Justin Trudeau’s vile, politically motivated agenda has now been replaced by a mature, interest-driven strategic partnership. PM Modi did not chase the reset — he scripted it with patience, firmness and foresight.

By standing his ground in 2023, seizing the opening in 2025, and steering the relationship towards concrete gains in 2026, he has once again shown why he is one of the most respected statesmen on the global stage. India-Canada ties have not just been revived — they are stronger, smarter and built to last.

This is PM Modi’s reset. And it is incredible.

The writer is a national spokesperson of the BJP, besides being an acclaimed author. Views expressed are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18’s views.

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