Ajit Karn
Included on the agenda will be Canada’s new Indo-Pacific Strategy, which was released in November of last year, as well as the ongoing discussions regarding the conclusion of an Early Progress Trade Agreement.
Melanie Joly, foreign minister of Canada, will travel to India next week for bilateral meetings India’s external affairs minister, S Jaishankar,
While the official itinerary has not yet been released, senior Canadian and Indian officials have confirmed that she will be in India on February 6 and 7. During the trip, she will hold a bilateral meeting with India’s external affairs minister, S Jaishankar, among other engagements.
Joly was initially expected to make the trip in March, for the G20 foreign ministers vertical, and possibly also to participate in the Raisina Dialogue, organised by the Observer Research Foundation in conjunction with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, the fact that she is travelling earlier for a bilateral meeting alone is indicative of the new emphasis placed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government on reviving the underperforming relationship.
Included on the agenda will be Canada’s new Indo-Pacific Strategy, which was released in November of last year, as well as the ongoing discussions regarding the conclusion of an Early Progress Trade Agreement (EPTA).
India continues to be concerned about pro-Khalistan activities in Canada, and New Delhi is irritated by the two rounds of voting in the so-called non-binding Punjab Referendum organised by the separatist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). However, according to a senior Indian official, both sides are willing to engage in constructive dialogue in order to advance relations. The situation in Ukraine one year after Russia’s invasion of that country will also be a major topic of discussion. In fact, Joly was supposed to visit India in March of last year, but the Ukraine conflict became Canada’s top priority.
Joly and s Jaishankar exchanged words on December 11. At the time, a senior Canadian official stated, “The call was positive, and ministers look forward to meeting in early 2023.”
During that conversation, the new Indo-Pacific Strategy was discussed. Canada has placed its Indo-Pacific Strategy at the centre of its engagement with the region, with India as a “critical partner” being of particular importance. “India’s strategic importance and leadership – both across the region and globally – will only increase as India – the world’s largest democracy – becomes the world’s most populous nation and continues to expand its economy,” the report continued.
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As India chairs the G20, New Delhi and Ottawa intend to “work together to strengthen our people-to-people ties and advance our shared interests,” per Joly’s tweet following their telephone conversation.
In the summer of 2022, the two ministers met in person on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda.
