Summary
- External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Canada’s new Foreign Minister Anita Anand held their first high-level conversation since Trudeau’s exit.
- The call focused on economic cooperation, shared priorities, and restoring trust amid recent tensions over the Nijjar case.
- Both countries are now exploring new diplomatic appointments, signaling a cautious but deliberate mending of ties.
Rebooting Relations: The Significance of the Jaishankar–Anand Engagement
In a moment symbolically loaded with diplomatic intent, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke on the phone with Canada’s new Foreign Minister Anita Anand — marking the first official dialogue between the two nations since Mark Carney took over as Canada’s Prime Minister. For both governments, the timing and tone of the conversation hint at a subtle pivot from months of recrimination to cautious reconciliation.
Relations between India and Canada had plunged to historic lows under Justin Trudeau, primarily over his accusations of Indian involvement in the 2023 killing of Khalistani figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The fallout was swift: diplomats were expelled, consulates downsized, and official dialogue nearly frozen. Now, with Trudeau out of office and a new administration in place, both sides appear ready to re-engage — beginning with this top-level call.
Jaishankar, in a post on X, called the conversation forward-looking. Anand, in turn, described it as “productive,” emphasizing economic and strategic cooperation. With Anand being of Indian origin and a seasoned Cabinet member, her appointment brings both symbolism and substance to this tentative thaw. Whether this becomes a full diplomatic reset remains to be seen — but the ice has unmistakably begun to crack.
EAM Jaishankar speaks to Canadian counterpart Anita Anand, discusses India-Canada ties@siddhantvm shares more details#SJaishankar #Canada #IndiaCanada pic.twitter.com/Hnxs8PJ4LB
— News18 (@CNNnews18) May 26, 2025
From Fallout to First Steps: How Ties Were Damaged and Why They May Now Heal
- Relations collapsed after Trudeau’s 2023 accusation linking India to Nijjar’s killing in British Columbia.
- India called the charges “absurd and motivated,” and withdrew several diplomats after Ottawa escalated the allegations.
- Both countries have since maintained minimal contact, with some quiet engagement through security backchannels.
The sharpest rupture came in September 2023, when then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly claimed Indian agents may have had a hand in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar — a known Khalistani extremist — on Canadian soil. India dismissed the charge outright and accused Canada of providing safe haven to separatist forces hostile to Indian sovereignty.
Diplomatic retaliation followed swiftly. High commissioners were recalled, consular access restricted, and bilateral trade and academic engagements suffered collateral damage. What was once a relationship defined by people-to-people connections and economic collaboration became mired in suspicion.
Yet behind the scenes, efforts to keep some communication channels open continued. Quiet talks between intelligence officials and foreign service officers were reportedly underway even as public rhetoric remained confrontational. This week’s ministerial call — polite, measured, but symbolically powerful — indicates that both countries now see a path, however narrow, back to functional diplomacy.
Who Is Anita Anand? The New Face of Canada’s Foreign Outreach
- Anand is a senior Liberal leader of Indian origin, formerly Canada’s Defence Minister.
- Her swearing-in on the Bhagavad Gita signals a personal and cultural connection to India.
- As Foreign Minister under PM Mark Carney, Anand represents a break from Trudeau’s posture toward India.
Anita Anand’s elevation as Canada’s Foreign Minister comes at a turning point in Indo-Canadian relations. At 58, Anand has not only risen through the Liberal Party ranks but also gained widespread respect as Canada’s former Defence Minister during the height of the pandemic and post-Afghanistan recalibrations. But it’s her heritage and symbolic gestures that give her an edge in navigating India ties.
Anand took oath with her hand on the Bhagavad Gita — a repeat of her previous ministerial ceremonies — marking a subtle cultural outreach that resonates deeply with Indian observers. Her Indian origin, combined with her policy experience, positions her uniquely to rebuild bridges frayed under Trudeau’s tenure.
In her initial statement post-call, Anand emphasized “advancing shared priorities,” suggesting a willingness to re-anchor the bilateral relationship in areas of economic and strategic overlap. Whether this translates into long-term stability remains uncertain, but her role is likely to be pivotal.
A Calculated Reset: What Comes Next for India and Canada
- Talks are ongoing to appoint new high commissioners in New Delhi and Ottawa.
- Economic engagement and diaspora relations could become the new anchors of diplomacy.
- Both governments now face domestic expectations to balance national security concerns with foreign cooperation.
The thaw in Indo-Canadian ties may be tentative, but it is also deliberate. With both sides aware of how quickly trust eroded in 2023, this new phase of diplomacy is likely to proceed cautiously. The ongoing discussions to restore ambassador-level representation signal a formal move toward normalization.
India, for its part, has made clear it expects Canada to crack down on extremist elements operating from its soil. Canada, under its new leadership, may seek to reframe engagement around trade, innovation, climate goals, and shared values. If both countries can recalibrate their red lines, the coming months could mark a quiet revival of diplomatic depth.
Still, the memory of the Nijjar episode lingers. Any future rapprochement will require not just official protocol, but a restructuring of how both sides view bilateral trust. Anand’s call may not solve that overnight — but it starts the process.
Restoring Trust, One Call at a Time
Diplomatic resets are rarely dramatic. They begin with gestures — like a phone call. Sunday’s conversation between Jaishankar and Anand marks such a moment: cautious, formal, but unmistakably forward-looking. The tone was constructive, the intentions clear — both nations are willing to move on from the bitterness of the past year.
For India, the departure of Justin Trudeau has opened a new diplomatic window. For Canada, appointing Anita Anand as Foreign Minister sends a message of seriousness and cultural alignment. The real test will be consistency — in actions, not just words.
If this engagement leads to mutual respect, restored diplomacy, and constructive collaboration, it will have been a reset worth pursuing. But for now, it remains just that — a beginning.
