Canada PM Mark Carney Likely to Visit India in Early March, Major Deals on Uranium, Energy and AI on Agenda

VoM News Desk | January 26, 2026 | 10:24 PM IST | Breaking News | Follow on Google News

New Delhi / Ottawa

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is expected to travel to India in the first week of March, with a series of agreements on uranium supply, energy cooperation, critical minerals and artificial intelligence likely to be signed during the visit, India’s High Commissioner to Canada, Dinesh Patnaik, has said.

Speaking in an interview over the weekend, Patnaik indicated that preparations for the visit are at an advanced stage. “I have a feeling the first week of March is what we are looking at,” he said, though Carney’s office has not officially confirmed the dates.

The visit would mark a significant step in Carney’s broader effort to diversify Canada’s global partnerships beyond the United States, its largest trading partner. At the World Economic Forum in Davos last week, Carney drew global attention with a speech declaring that the traditional rules-based international order is no longer functioning. He urged middle powers such as Canada to form new coalitions to build a more resilient and fair global system—a message that earned him a rare standing ovation.

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That address came shortly after Canada reached an agreement with China to sharply reduce tariffs on electric vehicles and canola, opening access to export markets worth an estimated C$7 billion. The move aligns with Carney’s stated goal of doubling Canada’s non-U.S. exports over the next decade.

Resetting ties with India

Carney is also working to stabilise and rebuild relations with India after a turbulent period under his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, who accused New Delhi in 2023 of involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar—an allegation India has consistently denied.

Since then, diplomatic engagement has picked up. Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the G7 summit last year at Carney’s invitation, and several Canadian ministers have visited India. Canada’s Energy Minister Tim Hodgson is currently in the country, even as discussions continue over the timing of Carney’s own visit.

“There are plans for the Prime Minister to visit at some point this year,” Hodgson said in an interview on Sunday. “It will depend on the progress we make.”

Trade talks and strategic agreements

According to Patnaik, formal negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and Canada are expected to begin in March, following an agreement last November to revive stalled trade talks.

During Carney’s visit, the two sides are likely to sign a series of sector-specific agreements covering nuclear energy, oil and gas, environmental cooperation, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, education and cultural exchanges.

A long-term uranium supply agreement—valued at around C$2.8 billion over 10 years—is also expected to feature prominently. While Hodgson did not confirm the deal, he said Canada remains open to supplying uranium to India under the existing nuclear cooperation framework, provided international safeguards are respected.

“We know India is a major nuclear country with ambitious plans to expand civilian nuclear energy,” Hodgson said. “That will certainly be one of the topics we discuss.”

Patnaik added that agreements on critical minerals, crude oil and LNG transactions are also in the pipeline, reflecting India’s growing demand and Canada’s capacity to supply.

“We need to focus on economies that are large and growing, and India clearly fits that profile,” Hodgson noted.

Urgency amid global uncertainty

Officials on both sides say there is a renewed sense of urgency after nearly two years of limited progress, driven in part by global trade uncertainty and rising protectionism.

“We are living in a world where the rules-based order that once provided predictability is no longer working,” Patnaik said, echoing Carney’s Davos remarks. “Countries like India and Canada need agreements that shield us from the shocks of an unstable international environment.”

The push comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened steep tariffs on Canada over its trade engagements with China. Carney has responded by stressing that Canada will respect its commitments under the USMCA and avoid free trade agreements with non-market economies.

India, too, is actively expanding its trade network. A long-awaited free trade agreement with the European Union is expected to be announced soon, and senior Indian ministers, including Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, are likely to visit Canada in the near future.

Security engagement continues

On the sensitive issue of the Nijjar killing, Patnaik said a court case is ongoing in Canada against four accused individuals. He reiterated that India would act if credible evidence emerges linking any Indian nationals to the crime.

He also confirmed that India’s National Security Advisor is scheduled to visit Ottawa next month as part of routine security and intelligence exchanges between the two countries.

If confirmed, Carney’s India visit would signal a clear thaw in bilateral relations—and underline both countries’ intent to anchor their partnership in energy security, technology cooperation and strategic autonomy in an increasingly fragmented world.

VoM News Desk

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