Mumbai: Canadian prime minister Mark Carney refused to call India a ‘middle power’, saying that the country has a different trajectory and ambition altogether.
Carney is on an official visit to India, during which he will focus on resetting ties between the two countries in a bid to dilute Canada’s fractured ties with the United States, as reported by News18.
The Canadian PM was asked if ‘middle powers’ like India and Canada was resetting ties as part of a global resistance during an interaction.
“Not to be too picky about the rhetoric, but I wouldn’t call India a ‘middle power’. I’m happy for Canada to be called a middle power. But India’s trajectory and ambition is totally different,” Carney said.
Ottawa is in talks with New Delhi on a comprehensive economic partnership agreement aimed at doubling two-way trade by 2030, he revealed during his visit to Mumbai.
Both countries should aim higher and be more strategic in their ties, Carney said while addressing the Canada-India Forum in the city.
He called India and Canada natural partners, highlighting strong diaspora links between the two nations. He also underlined renewed engagement with Prime Minister Narendra Modi across various sectors including security, energy and technology.
Carney will reach Delhi on Sunday and hold delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Modi at Hyderabad House on Monday. The two PMs will also attend the India-Canada CEOs Forum on March 2.
Relations between India and Canada took a hit in 2023 after Ottawa alleged New Delhi’s involvement in the killing of a Sikh separatist leader.
Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau, in September 2023, had said that there were credible allegations about India’s link to the killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar. New Delhi had denied the allegations, accusing the Trudeau administration of harbouring extremists.
Carney’s visit to India is being seen as an effort to restore diplomatic ties.
