Normalcy restored? Jaishankar to visit Canada on November 12 - what's on agenda

NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar will travel to Ontario this week to take part in a key G7 engagement, signalling a fresh phase in India-Canada diplomacy after months of quiet repair work between the two governments.In a statement, the ministry of external affairs said: “External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar will visit Ontario, Canada, on November 12 to participate in the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting with Outreach Partners, at the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, Ms. Anita Anand.”The statement underlined the significance of India’s participation, noting: “EAM's participation in the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting reflects India's continued commitment to working with international partners in addressing global challenges and bolstering the voice of the Global South in international fora.” It added that EAM Jaishankar is expected to hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines.The visit comes during a period of political and economic recalibration in Ottawa. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney recently highlighted efforts to deepen links in Asia amid tariff tensions with Washington, after US President Donald Trump abruptly ended trade negotiations with Canada.Speaking after the APEC summit in South Korea, Carney described the Asia-Pacific as “the fastest growing part of the world that represents 60 per cent of the global economy” and pointed to “progress which we have been making with India.” He said senior ministers had been in touch with New Delhi, even as he acknowledged strained ties with the US and called for reduced reliance on Washington.As part of a wider diplomatic push, Canadian foreign minister Anita Anand visited India last month, where she held talks with EAM Jaishankar and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two sides unveiled a cooperation roadmap to expand trade, critical minerals supply chains and energy partnerships, following years of tension sparked by the killing of a Sikh separatist in 2023. During Anand’s meeting with the Prime Minister, he “conveyed his warm wishes to Prime Minister Mark Carney” and said her trip would inject “new momentum” into the relationship. Modi also cited his “extremely productive meeting” with Carney during the G7 Summit in Canada in June.