Canada's Prime Minister Carney to Visit India, Australia, and Japan
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to visit India from February 27 to March 2, 2026, at the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The visit aims to strengthen ties in the Indo-Pacific region and explore opportunities for Canadian workers and businesses in sectors like trade, energy, technology, and defense. Carney's trip also includes stops in Australia and Japan.
Key Discussion Points
During his visit, Carney will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss expanding the Canada-India relationship through partnerships in trade, energy, technology, artificial intelligence, talent, culture, and defense. The leaders will review progress across various areas of the India-Canada Strategic Partnership, including trade and investment, energy, critical minerals, agriculture, education, research, and innovation. They will also exchange views on regional and global developments and attend the India-Canada CEOs Forum.
Business Engagements and Investments
In Mumbai, Carney will participate in business engagements and interact with Indian and Canadian CEOs, industry and financial experts, innovators, educators, and Canadian Pension Funds based in India. The goal is to identify investment opportunities in Canada and create new partnerships between businesses in both nations.
Energy Cooperation
Energy is expected to be a key area of focus during the visit. Canada and India are close to finalizing a 10-year uranium supply agreement, potentially worth around $2.8 billion, with Cameco as the supplier. The visit is expected to yield agreements on a range of bilateral issues, including the launch of negotiations for the Canada-India Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
Easing of Tensions
Carney's visit signals a shift from strained relations between Canada and India. Senior Canadian officials have stated that Ottawa is no longer concerned about interference or repression by Indian agents. This marks a change from the previous government's stance, which had alleged India's involvement in violent crimes on Canadian soil.
Conclusion
Prime Minister Mark Carney's visit to India, Australia, and Japan from February 26 to March 7, 2026, aims to strengthen ties, attract investment, and secure new partnerships. The India leg of the trip will focus on expanding the Canada-India relationship across various sectors, with energy cooperation being a key component. The visit also represents a step towards improved relations between the two countries.
