As geopolitical tensions shift across the Indo-Pacific, Canada is recalibrating its foreign policy posture in the region with a significant diplomatic push.
At the heart of this strategy is Foreign Minister Anita Anand’s upcoming visit to India, Singapore and China —a trip that signals Ottawa’s intent to re establish itself as a reliable, long— term partner in Asia. Anand’s visit to India from October 12 to 17 marks her first official trip since taking over the foreign affairs portfolio earlier this year.
While the bilateral relationship between New Delhi and Ottawa has faced recent turbulence, Anand’s visit represents a key opportunity to stabilize ties and reorient them towards strategic cooperation.
The visit is being closely watched in both capitals, coming just weeks after Anand met India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. The meeting was described as a “good one” by both sides with discussions reportedly focused on reappointing high commissioners and rebuilding trust after a period of diplomatic chill. Anand is scheduled to meet Minister Jaishankar and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in Delhi. Discussions are expected to centre on trade diversification, energy transition, and regional security— areas where both nations share overlapping interests despite past political frictions. Bilateral ties have been under strain in recent years due to political disagreements and a lack of sustained engagement.
Anand’s visit signals an attempt to shift the conversation from points of friction to shared priorities. Anand will also travel to Mumbai, where she is expected to engage with Canadian and Indian business leaders.
With India emerging as one of the fastest growing major economies, Canadian officials are keen to tap into sectors ranging from clean energy to digital infrastructure. Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy emphasizes the need to deepen economic partnerships in Asia to diversify away from overdependence on traditional Western markets.
While the headlines may focus on Anand’s India leg, her broader tour — including stops in Singapore and China — illustrates Canada’s evolving approach in Asia. As Foreign Minister Anand stated on X (formerly Twitter), “For Canada to be strong at home, we need strong, stable partnerships abroad. I am building bridges and increasing cooperation with India, Singapore, and China.”
Her trip comes in the wake of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s first in-person meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G7 Summit in June, suggesting growing political will on both sides to reinvigorate relations.
Diplomatic sources in Delhi describe the visit as “a reset with strategic intent.” Canada appears to be moving beyond damage control, positioning itself as a serious player in the Indo-Pacific’s evolving power dynamics. Whether Anand’s visit can deliver tangible outcomes or merely serve as a symbolic gesture will depend on what both countries are willing to bring to the table.
Still, with rising global competition and shifting alliances, the renewed outreach offers both countries a chance to turn the page and perhaps write a new chapter in Canada-India relations.
