Canada's PM Mark Carney likely to visit India in March

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is likely to visit India in the first week of March, with multiple agreements expected across energy, minerals, nuclear cooperation and emerging technologies, India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, told news agency Reuters. The visit would mark a significant step in Canada’s efforts to diversify trade and strategic partnerships beyond the United States, its largest trading partner.

Patnaik said Carney is expected to sign a series of agreements with India covering uranium supply, oil and gas, critical minerals, artificial intelligence and quantum computing, along with education and cultural cooperation. A 10-year uranium supply deal worth about 2.8 billion Canadian dollars is likely to be part of the package.

Canada’s Energy Minister Tim Hodgson, who is visiting India this week, said



discussions would include nuclear cooperation under the existing Canada-India nuclear agreement, provided international safeguards are respected. He added that energy and mining would be key areas of engagement, including potential crude oil and LNG transactions.

Carney is also seeking to reset ties with India after relations deteriorated under his predecessor Justin Trudeau, who accused the Indian government of involvement in the 2023 killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, allegations India has strongly denied.

Formal negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Canada are expected to begin in March, Patnaik said. Trade talks had stalled for nearly two years before both sides agreed to revive them in November. Patnaik said a CEPA could be concluded within a year of the talks starting.