Carney, who positioned himself as a bridge builder, repeatedly stressed the importance of rebuilding relations in India, especially in the context of trade tensions with the United States under Donald Trump.
“This is a very important relationship on many levels – personal, economic and strategic,” Carney said in a pre-election interview.
It is worth noting that Carney avoided the Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing that directly resolved the events that caused the diplomatic crisis, and instead focused on resolving the “pressures of relationships” with mutual respect.
Based on Trudeau’s confrontational approach, Indian officials see this as a promising signal. The context of Carney’s reconciliation stance is shaped by the complexity of Canadian-U.S. relations. Trump’s rhetoric and tariff threats in “51st State” highlight Canada’s need to diversify its international partnership.
Carney asserted: “What Canada is going to do is diversify our transactional relationships with like-minded countries and have the opportunity to rebuild our relationship with India.”
Under Trudeau’s leadership, relations with India deteriorated sharply, accusation of the Indian government of participating in the Nijjar killing, diplomatic deportation and visa moratorium. The impact of Sikh extremists on Trudeau’s foreign policy is widely regarded as an important factor in this decline.
Jagmeet Singh’s election defeat was a figure associated with pro-Kalistan sentiment and was seen as a positive development of Indian-Canadian relations. His departure may reduce the impact of extremism on Canadian policy.
India is reportedly considering returning its high commissioner to Canada, a sign of willingness to move forward.
The large Indian-Canadian and NRI populations account for more than 3% of Canada’s total population, underscoring the importance of this relationship.
Despite diplomatic tensions, bilateral trade remains large and Canada remains the main destination for Indian students.
Now, the potential revival of the Integrated Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) and opportunities for Indian students and professionals have increased.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s congratulations to Carney, highlighting shared democratic values ​​and relationships between people, further demonstrates India’s desire for a new partnership.
Modi tweeted: “India and Canada are bounded by shared democratic values ​​… and the dynamic relationship between people. I look forward to working with you to strengthen our partnerships and unlock more opportunities for our people.”
Mark Carney’s victory marks a potential reset in Canada-India relations, which runs counter to Trudeau’s turbulent years. Carney emphasized mutual respect and economic opportunities, coupled with the ever-changing Canadian political landscape, which provided hope for improving bilateral relations.
