Jaishankar meets Canadian FM, Other global leaders to boost trade, technology, and cooperation

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Niagara, discussing ongoing progress under the India-Canada Roadmap 2025 and exploring ways to further strengthen bilateral ties.

In a post on X, Jaishankar expressed his appreciation for Canada hosting the G7 meeting and highlighted the progress in implementing the New Roadmap. “Delighted to meet with FM Anita Anand of Canada today. congratulated her on hosting the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. Appreciated the progress in implementation of the New Roadmap 2025. I look forward to the further rebuilding of our bilateral partnership,” he tweeted.

The New Roadmap 2025, agreed upon during Anand’s visit to India last month, aims to revitalise India-Canada relations on the basis of shared democratic values, respect for sovereignty, and commitment to the rule of law. It focuses on multiple areas including trade, investment, energy transition, critical minerals, technology, science collaboration, agriculture, education, and people-to-people exchanges.

Jaishankar’s meeting with Anand is part of a broader diplomatic outreach in Canada, where he held discussions with counterparts from South Africa, Mexico, Germany, France, and Brazil, as well as provincial leaders such as Scott Moe, Premier of Saskatchewan. These bilateral engagements complement India’s participation as a G7 Outreach Partner, allowing New Delhi to bridge dialogues between the Global North and South while advancing practical cooperation across trade, technology, health, energy, and agriculture.

For instance, talks with Mexico focused on expanding collaboration in trade, pharmaceuticals, health, and science & technology, while discussions with Germany and France emphasised strategic partnerships, Indo-Pacific security, and multilateral cooperation. Engagement with Brazil explored opportunities in trade, investment, and technology, and meetings with Saskatchewan’s leadership centred on energy, food, and fertiliser cooperation.

India’s participation in the G7 meeting underscores its commitment to engaging with global partners on shared challenges and amplifying the voice of the Global South in international forums. The gathering brought together ministers from G7 nations including Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US, and the EU along with outreach countries such as India, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, South Korea, South Africa, and Ukraine.

While the Roadmap provides a framework for deeper cooperation, analysts note that sensitive issues such as diaspora dynamics, political differences, and historical diplomatic tensions may require careful management to rebuild trust fully and ensure the partnership advances smoothly in the coming years.