External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday, 14 September held a telephone conversation with Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, covering bilateral cooperation between India and Canada as well as the ongoing situation in Ukraine. The call signals continued diplomatic engagement between the two nations following a period of strained relations.

What Was Discussed

“Good to speak with FM Anita Anand of Canada this evening, on our bilateral cooperation as well as on the Ukraine situation,” Jaishankar stated in a post on X. While details of the specific positions exchanged were not disclosed, the conversation reflects the broadening agenda between the two foreign ministries, extending beyond purely bilateral matters to shared global concerns.

FOC Meeting Laid the Groundwork

The phone call comes on the heels of the annual Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held on 2 September at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. The Indian delegation was led by Rudrendra Tandon, Secretary (East) at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), while Canada’s team was headed by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Arun Thangaraj of Global Affairs Canada.

According to an MEA statement, the FOC “was held against the backdrop of sustained momentum in the bilateral relationship, reflected in the pace of high-level exchanges and progress in various areas of bilateral cooperation since June 2025.” Both sides reaffirmed the importance of India-Canada ties, “anchored in shared democratic values, respect for principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, and joint commitment to the rule of law.”

Trade, Energy and Investment on the Table

A key focus of the ongoing diplomatic engagement is economic integration. Both governments reiterated their shared commitment to concluding Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations before the end of the year, with the joint objective of more than doubling bilateral trade to CAD 70 billion (approximately ₹4.65 lakh crore) by 2030. The FOC also reviewed progress across institutional mechanisms covering energy and critical minerals, science and technology, education, security and defence cooperation, culture, and people-to-people ties.

Notably, last month Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman addressed a high-level India-Canada Business Roundtable in Toronto alongside Canadian Finance and National Revenue Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne. Sitharaman said India and Canada have “an opportunity to deepen financial-sector cooperation and build long-term investment partnerships,” describing the two economies as complementary — “India brings scale, growth and opportunities, while Canada offers long-term capital, institutional depth and expertise.”

Context: A Relationship Rebuilt Since 2025

The warmth on display marks a notable turnaround. India-Canada relations had hit a serious low in 2023 following diplomatic expulsions tied to allegations around the killing of a Sikh separatist leader in British Columbia — allegations India has consistently denied. The bilateral reset, which officials say gained real traction from June 2025, has since been characterised by a return of high-level exchanges and structured dialogue. The current pace of engagement — a senior-level FOC, a finance minister’s visit, and now an EAM-level call within weeks — represents the most intensive diplomatic activity between the two countries in recent years.

What Comes Next

With CEPA negotiations on a year-end deadline and several institutional mechanisms tracking progress, both sides appear invested in sustaining momentum. The Ukraine discussion adds a geopolitical dimension to what has otherwise been a relationship-rebuilding exercise, reflecting India’s effort to maintain active dialogue with Western partners on global security. All eyes will now be on whether the CEPA timeline holds and whether further high-level visits materialise before the close of 2026.