After Strategic Wins with EU and France, India To Host Canada’s PM Carney; What Benefits Lie Ahead?

New Delhi: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is visiting India today. His four-day visit will last from 27 February to 2 March 2026. This is Carney's first official visit to India, and it is starting at a time when India has made tremendous diplomatic and economic deals with big countries like the European Union, Brazil, and France in recent months. It seems that this journey is going to further strengthen those successes.

What are Carney's travel plans?

Carney will reach Mumbai on 27 February. There, over the next two days, he will participate in a number of business events, like meeting Indian and Canadian CEOs, financial experts, innovators and heads of Canadian pension funds. Then after reaching Delhi on March 1, he will hold high-level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Hyderabad House on March 2. The main focus will be on trade, energy, technology and defense.

What benefit can India get from this?

This visit is not just formal but also very business-oriented. There was tension between the two countries in the past years (especially due to the Khalistani leader issue of 2023), but now the relationship is being reset. Canada no longer associates India with violent crimes and, troubled by Trump's tariff policies, is looking for new partners away from the US. This is an opportunity for India.

• To double the trade – currently the trade is about 30 billion dollars; the target is to take it to 50-70 billion by 2030.
• Starting Free Trade Agreement (FTA/CEPA) negotiations – Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said in Mumbai that the terms of reference can be finalized upon Carney's arrival and negotiations will begin.
• New deals in uranium, critical minerals, heavy crude oil, AI, quantum computing, education and research.
• CEO forums and business meetings will increase investment.

Is it a new beginning of good relations?

Relations had deteriorated due to allegations of murder of Khalistani leader in 2023, FTA talks were halted. But now the tone has changed from both sides. Canada wants to diversify trade, and India needs a new partner. This base has been prepared by the previous meetings of Modi and Carney (in Canada and Johannesburg).

What are India's recent major diplomatic victories?

Carney's journey is a continuation of those successes –

• Green Hydrogen Task Force, announcing completion of FTA negotiations with EU leaders in January 2026.
• 10 deals with Brazilian President Lula in February – Rare Earth Minerals, MSME, Digital Partnership, AI.
• Special Global Strategic Partnership with Macron of France, 21 agreements – helicopter, missile, critical minerals, AI, nuclear, and space.

Overall, why is this journey special?

It is bringing 5 big opportunities for India – a new chapter of trade, complete restoration of relations, new options in North America (avoiding Trump's tariffs), acting as a bridge between the global South and the West, and long-term partnerships in high-tech, energy, education. If FTA negotiations move forward, it could be a game-changer for both the countries. It remains to be seen what comes out of the Mumbai-Delhi meetings, but the atmosphere seems quite positive.