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Canada softens stance on alleged Indian interference ahead of PM Carney’s India visit

Canada appears to ease its earlier allegations of Indian interference as PM Mark Carney heads to India to strengthen trade and strategic ties.

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Canada appears to be easing its earlier allegations of Indian interference as Prime Minister Mark Carney prepares for a key visit to India aimed at rebuilding commercial and diplomatic ties.

Senior officials in Ottawa indicated that the Canadian government maintains “mature and robust discussions” with the Government of India on concerns related to foreign interference. They also emphasised that Canada has strong safeguards in place to protect its democratic institutions.

According to officials quoted by media, the Prime Minister would likely not be travelling to India if Ottawa believed New Delhi was actively interfering in Canada’s democratic processes. The remarks suggest a noticeable shift from the strong accusations levelled last year.

Officials said there has been sustained engagement with the government of Narendra Modi at multiple levels, including senior officials, ministers and leadership-level interactions. They expressed confidence that the discussions provide a foundation for further constructive dialogue.

At the same time, a senior official reiterated that Canada maintains “no tolerance” for foreign interference in its domestic affairs.

From allegations to engagement

The recent comments contrast with statements made last June by the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), which accused India of being among the primary actors involved in foreign interference and espionage activities in Canada.

CSIS had also described alleged links between Indian authorities and the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Vancouver as a “significant escalation” in India’s actions against the Khalistan movement.

India firmly rejected those accusations. The dispute triggered a diplomatic standoff, with both countries expelling senior diplomats from Ottawa and New Delhi in a tit-for-tat move.

Carney’s push to rebuild ties

Prime Minister Carney’s visit to India is being positioned as part of a broader Indo-Pacific outreach and a more pragmatic foreign policy approach. His trip will begin in Mumbai before he heads to New Delhi for talks with Prime Minister Modi.

The visit comes as both nations seek to stabilise relations that deteriorated sharply following Canada’s allegations over Nijjar’s killing — claims that New Delhi strongly denied.

Carney’s office has said discussions will centre on expanding cooperation in trade, energy, technology, artificial intelligence, talent mobility, culture and defence.

Growing trade partnership

India is currently Canada’s seventh-largest trading partner in goods and services. Annual bilateral trade exceeds $21 billion, according to Canadian government data.

The two sides had previously agreed to resume negotiations on a proposed free-trade agreement, targeting bilateral trade of $50 billion by 2030.

More than 600 Canadian companies operate in India across sectors such as information technology, banking, health sciences and financial services. Key Indian exports to Canada include pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery, precious stones and seafood.

Diplomatic ties show signs of recovery

Canada hosts approximately 2.8 million people of Indian origin. Nearly 400,000 Indian students are enrolled in Canadian universities, making them the largest group of international students in the country.

Canada is also home to the largest Sikh population outside India, including some fringe separatist elements advocating for Khalistan.

Relations between the two countries began to improve after Carney assumed office in March 2025, with envoys restored and diplomatic engagement gradually resuming.

The upcoming visit is being viewed as a significant step toward stabilising ties and advancing economic cooperation amid shifting global trade dynamics and uncertainties linked to policies under US President Donald Trump.

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India envoy Dinesh Trivedi meets PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman 

India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman amid diplomatic tensions.

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India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday, a day after his meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka.

According to the High Commission of India in Bangladesh, Trivedi sought PM Modi’s guidance on further strengthening the bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh through a constructive and people-centric approach.

The meeting came a day after Trivedi held discussions with Tarique Rahman on matters of mutual interest and ways to advance ties between the two neighbouring countries.

Dinesh Trivedi Meets Bangladesh PM

During his meeting with Tarique Rahman on Monday, Trivedi conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Modi and reiterated India’s commitment to working with the Bangladeshi administration and its people in a positive, constructive and forward-looking manner.

The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest and explored avenues for strengthening India-Bangladesh relations with a people-centric approach.

The engagement took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Trivedi also shared his experience of serving in Dhaka over the previous two months.

Sheikh Hasina Extradition Request

The meeting assumed significance as Bangladesh has expressed hope that India will expedite the extradition process involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted following a student-led uprising in 2024.

According to a statement issued by the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office, Dhaka also reiterated its request for India to return individuals it alleges were involved in the killing of Shahid Osman Hadi, a prominent figure associated with the July uprising who was shot on December 12, 2025.

Tarique Rahman stressed the need to create a suitable environment to take forward relations between Bangladesh and India.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and other officials attended the meeting.

India-Bangladesh Ties Amid Diplomatic Friction

The latest high-level engagements come amid diplomatic tensions between the two countries following a virtual press interaction by Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi on August 5.

The event, organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia to mark the second anniversary of her ouster, prompted strong objections from Dhaka.

During the interaction, Hasina said she remained determined to return to Bangladesh in December and restore democracy, while acknowledging the possibility of imprisonment or a death sentence upon her return.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently registered a strong protest and said the development had affected public sentiment and complicated efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

India has said the government had no involvement in the event. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said it was organised by a private media entity and clarified that New Delhi did not endorse views expressed at the forum.

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Trump, PM Modi will resolve tariff issue over Russian oil trade, says US official

White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue over US tariff threats linked to India’s Russian oil trade.

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US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue surrounding the threat of US tariffs linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil, White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said on Tuesday.

Navarro’s remarks came days after the US Senate passed a bill authorising the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the top five purchasers of Russian oil. The measure argues that such purchases directly contribute to financing Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Navarro comments on India’s Russian oil trade

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Navarro said India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia before the Ukraine war began in 2022.

He alleged that India became heavily involved in the trade after Russia’s invasion and sold refined products on behalf of Russia, which he said helped support the Russian war effort.

“Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia, but afterwards it got heavily involved,” Navarro said.

The White House adviser also claimed that the issue had since been resolved and attributed some of the shift in India’s Russian oil trade to an opinion article he recently wrote in the Financial Times.

Trump and Modi will resolve issue, Navarro says

Navarro said the relationship between Trump and Modi would help address the tariff-related issue.

“The president and your prime minister have a very good working relationship. They are going to work that out amongst themselves,” he said, adding that it was not his place to intervene.

His comments come amid US concerns over countries purchasing Russian oil and proposed measures aimed at imposing additional tariffs on major buyers.

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US Senate passes Russia sanctions bill, India-China face 100% tariff risk

The US Senate has passed a Russia sanctions bill that could allow 100% tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including India and China.

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The US Senate has approved a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that could allow President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil or natural gas, including India and China.

The legislation was passed by an 86-11 vote and will now move to the US House of Representatives, which is scheduled to reconvene on August 31.

The bill is named in honour of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a strong supporter of Ukraine who died on July 11. Graham had pushed for tougher sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine.

India and China among major Russian energy buyers

The legislation gives the US president the power to impose tariffs on the world’s top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas.

India and China are among those countries, along with Azerbaijan, Hungary and Slovakia.

The bill also contains an exception for countries importing less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and taking steps to reduce their dependence on Russian supplies.

What does the Russia sanctions bill contain?

Apart from the proposed tariffs, the legislation includes sanctions targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian political and military officials, financial institutions and energy projects.

The bill would also expand US sanctions to older and reflagged oil tankers allegedly used by Moscow to bypass existing restrictions on Russian oil and energy revenues.

At the same time, the White House would have the option to waive sanctions or restrictions if the president certifies to Congress that doing so is in the national interest.

Bill also extends Iran sanctions law

The legislation also contains a provision related to Iran. It would extend the expiration date of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 until 2031.

The law penalises companies that invest in Iran’s energy sector.

The bill’s passage in the Senate marks the next step in the US legislative process, but it still needs approval from the House of Representatives before it can move forward.

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