Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to pay an official visit to India this week. This step aims to reformulate diplomatic relations between the two countries and open broader horizons for commercial cooperation in the fields of nuclear energy, oil and vital minerals, according to what a high-ranking Indian diplomat in Canada said.
Dinesh Patnaik, the High Commissioner of India in Ottawa, explained that the agenda of the visit includes the possibility of concluding cooperation agreements in various fields, including research, artificial intelligence, quantum computing and education, in addition to increasing the volume of shipments of Canadian uranium to India, selling heavy crude oil, and exploring investment opportunities in infrastructure.
This visit comes one year after a period of tension in relations between the two countries, after Canada expelled six Indian officials on charges of attempted extortion and violence targeting Canadian citizens, which India categorically denied. Officials believe that Canada, since Carney took office, has moved towards normalizing relations.
Karni’s tour includes visiting the cities of Mumbai and New Delhi, while avoiding the Punjab province, with the aim of easing any potential tensions associated with the Sikh community. The Canada-India CEO Forum will also be held, and meetings will be held with leaders from the business and education sectors.
In addition, the tour includes stops in Australia and Japan, where it is expected to announce the expansion of defense cooperation in Australia, and to hold a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi with the aim of strengthening economic and trade relations.
Patnaik stressed that this visit reflects a new direction in Canadian foreign policy under the leadership of Carney, which is based on building multifaceted relations with major and middle powers, and overcoming previous differences to strengthen strategic partnerships.
