"They've got a rapport": Canadian Envoy Chris Cooter says Modi-Carney partnership driving India-Canada reset
By Ayushi Agarwal, New Delhi, June 22
Canada's High Commissioner to India Chris Cooter on Monday stated that the diplomatic relationship between India and Canada is entering a phase of renewed cooperation, anchored by a deep personal rapport between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Mark Carney, despite the blip in the last two years.
Speaking to ANI, Cooter highlighted the importance of high-level engagement between the two nations and noted that the two leaders have met several times, including their recent meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, France.
Addressing the commonalities between the leaders, the High Commissioner said that they look to "get things done" with a shared sense of urgency, particularly in navigating complex trade and geopolitical landscapes.
"The Prime Ministers have met four times. They've also been talking on the phone quite a bit; I'm sure they're WhatsApping as well. So they've got a rapport that really helps us build everything else. Because both Prime Ministers are like-minded in the sense that they want to get things done, they understand the urgency. In our case, it's particularly important that we diversify relationships in a meaningful way. This is trade, but it's also geopolitics," he said.
Beyond the personal connection between the leaders, Cooter pointed to a significant stabilisation in the security sphere.
He stated that following a period of diplomatic strain, both nations have established a reliable, process-driven approach to addressing security-related concerns. He argued that the agencies on both sides have developed a clear understanding of operational methods, ensuring a commitment to transparency.
"Well, I think as I said, on that core of security-related issues, I think we've established a good process now. Things will happen, but I think the people know each other, they know how each agency works, and they're committed to making sure there's no surprises. To the extent possible, that's going very, very well," Cooter said.
According to the High Commissioner, this reset is part of a larger Canadian strategy to meaningfully diversify its global relationships. Cooter linked this approach to broader international efforts, referenced by the Canadian Prime Minister during the G7 summit and at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where non-hegemonic nations seek to advance their interests and protect their sovereignty through flexible, "variable geometry" partnerships.
"You will probably be aware that our Prime Minister gave this famous speech at Davos just before coming here, and he's elaborated on what he said in Davos since that time, including during the G7 summit. You know, I think what he's looking at is a world in which countries that aren't the hegemon--the largest powers--want to have the ability to protect their sovereignty, to advance their interest in partnership. So that's variable geometry, one way of looking at it," he stated.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney reviewed progress in bilateral economic cooperation on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France, and highlighted the importance of resilient and reliable global energy and food security supply chains.
According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the two leaders met on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, France, on Tuesday and reviewed the growing momentum in bilateral relations.
As per the MEA, the Prime Ministers welcomed the positive trajectory of India-Canada ties and expressed satisfaction over the progress achieved since Prime Minister Carney's visit to India in March this year.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I appreciate the emphasis on "no surprises" in security matters. That is exactly what we need - transparency and predictability. The Khalistan issue was a huge roadblock, so if both sides are now committed to process-driven engagement, it's a win-win. But I hope Canada also takes concrete action against anti-India elements operating from their soil. Words are good, actions are better.
As a Canadian of Indian origin living in Toronto, this is heartening to read. The "variable geometry" concept Carney talks about makes sense for middle powers like Canada and rising powers like India. We need each other more than ever, especially with global supply chains being so fragile. Modi and Carney seem to have a genuine connection - that personal rapport can smooth over a lot of bureaucratic bumps.
Trade and geopolitics aside, I hope this reset helps our students and workers in Canada. The visa processing delays have been a nightmare for many. And with the new immigration policies there, we need clarity. If Modi-Carney bonding can fix these practical issues, then I'm all for it. Otherwise, all this "rapport" talk is just photo-ops. 🤞
Nice to see diplomacy working through personal chemistry. Both Modi and Carney are pragmatic leaders who understand the world has changed post-Covid. The diversification of partnerships is smart - India shouldn't put all eggs in one basket, and neither should Canada. I just hope the security cooperation includes sharing intelligence on organized crime and drug trafficking that affects both our countries. More substance, less spin please! 🙏
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