External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on 27 September 2026, signalling that India and Canada are preparing to elevate their bilateral relationship to a new plane. The high-level engagement comes as both sides work to convert a sustained diplomatic reset into concrete agreements across trade, energy, technology, security and education.

What Jaishankar Said

'A productive discussion as we prepare to take the relationship to a higher level,' Jaishankar said in a post on social media platform X, where he also shared photographs and a short video of the meeting. He described the encounter as 'Always a pleasure to meet FM Anita Anand of Canada.' Neither government immediately disclosed the specific issues discussed or announced a new agreement from the meeting.

The Diplomatic Reset That Got Them Here

The bilateral relationship has undergone a sharp transformation over the past year. India and Canada unveiled a shared roadmap during Anand's visit to India in October 2025. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney subsequently travelled to Mumbai and New Delhi early this year, using the visit to anchor a renewed strategic partnership around security, defence cooperation and an advancing trade agenda.

Notably, Carney and Prime Minister Narendra Modi committed during that visit to conclude negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) in 2026. Canada says the proposed pact is designed to help lift annual two-way merchandise and services trade to $70 billion by 2030. The negotiations span goods and services, investment, agriculture and agri-food, digital trade, mobility and sustainable development.

Energy and Strategic Cooperation

A strategic energy partnership — covering liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), uranium, solar energy and hydrogen — was also announced during the Carney visit. A landmark commercial outcome was a $2.6 billion agreement under which Canada-based Cameco will supply India with nearly 22 million pounds of uranium for nuclear power generation between 2027 and 2035.

Other priority areas identified for cooperation include critical minerals, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, aerospace, space research, higher education and resilient supply chains. This comes amid a broader global push by India to diversify its strategic and energy partnerships beyond traditional partners.

Trade, People and Security Links

The human dimension of the relationship is substantial. Canada reports that more than 1.8 million Canadians are of Indian origin, and India was Canada's largest source country for most immigration categories, including study permits, in 2024. Official Canadian data put merchandise trade between the two countries at $10.9 billion in 2025, while Canadian services exports to India reached $15.6 billion in 2024, driven largely by education-related travel.

On the security front, the two governments have reopened structured discussions covering terrorism, violent extremism, organised crime, cybercrime, extortion, financial fraud, narcotics and immigration enforcement — a notable development given past friction over these very issues. Mark Carney summed up the opportunity during his India visit: 'India is the fastest-growing major economy and a powerhouse of global commerce and technology.'

With the UNGA meeting adding fresh momentum, all eyes will now be on whether a CEPA framework can be finalised before the end of 2026 — a deadline both governments have publicly committed to.