India, Canada Hold Bilateral Talks on Republic Day, Jaishankar Confirms

India and Canada held bilateral discussions on Monday as India marked its 76th Republic Day, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said, signalling renewed momentum in ties between the two countries.

In a post on X, Jaishankar said he spoke with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation and maintain high-level engagement.
“A fruitful conversation with Canadian Foreign Minister @AnitaAnandMP this morning. Discussed the deepening of our bilateral cooperation and continued high level exchanges,” he wrote.

Focus on strengthening cooperation

The latest interaction builds on discussions held in November 2025, when the two ministers met on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Niagara Falls. At that time, both sides reviewed progress under the India–Canada Roadmap 2025 and explored opportunities to expand collaboration across key sectors.

Officials say the renewed dialogue reflects efforts by both governments to stabilise and advance bilateral engagement after a period of strain.

Energy and trade talks gain traction

The talks come ahead of a visit by Canada’s Energy Minister Tim Hodgson, who is expected to travel to Goa for an international energy conference. During the visit, he is likely to meet Indian government officials and industry representatives.

According to reports, discussions are expected to focus on potential cooperation and commercial agreements in areas such as critical minerals, uranium and liquefied natural gas — sectors where Canada holds significant resource advantages and which are increasingly important for India’s energy security.

Free trade talks may resume

Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal had earlier indicated that India and Canada are also moving towards reviving negotiations on a free trade agreement. Talks on the pact were paused by Canada in 2023, but both sides have now agreed to restart discussions from scratch.

Agrawal said the two countries are in the process of finalising the terms of reference to formally relaunch negotiations, as global trade dynamics continue to evolve following the introduction of “reciprocal tariffs” by US President Donald Trump last year.

High-level visits expected

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is also expected to visit India in the near future, which could further shape the next phase of engagement between New Delhi and Ottawa.

The Republic Day exchange underscores a cautious but visible effort by both countries to rebuild trust and expand cooperation across diplomacy, trade and energy.