India and Canada: security, defence, energy and technology

This article covers sectoral cooperation between India and Canada as set out in the MEA bilateral brief of July 2026: security and counter-terrorism, defence, energy, critical minerals, science and technology, artificial intelligence, space, environment and agriculture. The brief does not describe Indian development assistance, lines of credit or ITEC training for Canada, so the article concentrates on these areas of cooperation.

Security and counter-terrorism

According to the MEA brief of July 2026, the two countries engage on counter-terrorism issues particularly through the Joint Working Group (JWG) on Counter Terrorism, set up in 1997. The brief states that security cooperation was further enhanced with the Framework for Cooperation between India and Canada on Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism, signed in February 2018.

The then Canadian National Security and Intelligence Advisor (NSIA), Ms. Nathalie Drouin, met NSA Shri Ajit Doval, KC in New Delhi on 18 September 2025. The NSA visited Canada from 6-8 February 2026 and met Ms. Drouin, then NSIA, on 7 February 2026. The brief describes that visit as part of regular bilateral security dialogue between the two sides.

When the two Prime Ministers met in Evian in June 2026, they agreed to launch negotiations on a General Security of Information Agreement.

Defence

During Prime Minister Carney's visit to India in 2026, the two sides discussed the value of expanding practical military cooperation. They welcomed opportunities to deepen defence relations through cooperative activities, joint training opportunities and professional military exchanges. A new Maritime Security Partnership in areas such as Defence Material Cooperation, Supply Chain Resilience, and Training and Exercises was also welcomed.

Both countries agreed to institutionalise an India-Canada Defence Dialogue. It will exchange views on their defence policies, regional and global security developments and strategic outlooks, in order to identify opportunities for greater defence collaboration.

In this context, both sides welcomed Canada's appointment of a Defence Attaché to India and India's concurrent accreditation of its Defence Attaché in Washington D.C. to Canada. The brief describes these as important steps toward strengthening institutional linkages.

On the sidelines of the Shangri La Dialogue 2026, Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh met Mr. Kelvin Brousseau, Senior Associate Deputy Minister of National Defence of Canada, on 29 May 2026. A 16-member delegation from the National Defence College of India visited Canada from 1-5 June 2026 as part of its Foreign Countries Study Tour. The brief states that the visit enhanced mutual understanding on strategic and security issues.

Energy

In January 2026, Canada's Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Mr. Tim Hodgson, visited India to participate in India Energy Week 2026 in Goa. On the margins of the conference, he held a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, and the two Ministers launched the renewed India-Canada Ministerial Energy Dialogue. The brief dates his visit to 27-30 January 2026 and records that he also met the Minister of Heavy Industries, Shri H.D. Kumaraswamy, the Minister of Commerce and Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, the Minister of Consumer Affairs, Shri Pralhad Joshi, and the Minister of Health & Family Welfare, Shri J.P. Nadda.

Alberta's Minister of Indigenous Relations, Ms. Rajan Sawhney, and Mr. Shane Getson, Parliamentary Secretary for Economic Corridor Development in the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, visited India from 19 January to 5 February 2026. Both also participated in India Energy Week 2026.

When the Prime Ministers met in New Delhi in March 2026, they underscored facilitating the expansion of bilateral energy trade across key sectors. These included liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), crude oil, refined petroleum products, potash and uranium supply offtakes. The leaders acknowledged what the brief calls the significant potential to expand energy trade, including increased imports of oil and LNG by India from Canada and the supply of refined petroleum products from India to Canada.

At Johannesburg in November 2025, the Prime Ministers reaffirmed civil nuclear cooperation, including potential long-term uranium supply arrangements. At Evian in June 2026, they reviewed developments in commercial arrangements relating to LNG, LPG and metallurgical coal.

Clean energy and alliances

In March 2026, India and Canada signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Clean Energy Cooperation. It establishes an institutional framework for bilateral collaboration across solar, wind, bioenergy, small hydro, energy storage and capacity-building. Among the MoUs signed during Prime Minister Carney's visit, the brief also lists an MoU on promoting the use of Renewable Energy.

In March 2026, India welcomed Canada's intention to pursue membership in the International Solar Alliance (ISA), noting that Canada's participation would enhance international cooperation in solar deployment, innovation and capacity-building, particularly in developing and climate-vulnerable regions. India also welcomed Canada's signing of the foundational documents to upgrade its participation in the Global Biofuels Alliance as a Full Member.

Critical minerals

During Prime Minister Carney's visit in March 2026, India and Canada signed an MoU on Critical Minerals Cooperation. The brief says it reflects a shared commitment to building resilient, secure and diversified critical minerals supply chains.

India also endorsed the G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan, which promotes diversified and responsible production and supply of critical minerals and encourages investment and innovation across value chains for clean energy, advanced manufacturing and technology. Both sides agreed to deepen cooperation on critical minerals and energy transition pathways.

Science and technology

In May 2022, the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) led a delegation to Ottawa for the 7th India-Canada Joint Science and Technology Cooperation Committee (JSTCC), which he co-chaired with the Deputy Minister of International Trade at Global Affairs Canada. On its sidelines, DST and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) signed an MoU on Cooperation in industrial research, Development & Innovation.

The 8th JSTCC meeting was held at Technology Bhavan, New Delhi, on 29 May 2026. Both sides signed an Implementation Arrangement (IA) in Science and Technology, establishing a framework for research cooperation in priority areas including artificial intelligence, green hydrogen, microelectronics, critical minerals, biofuels, climate-resilient agriculture, and marine and space research. The IA provides for collaborative research, scientific exchanges and expert interactions, joint workshops and seminars, and targeted funding opportunities.

The Department of Earth Science, Government of India, and Polar Canada started a programme for exchange of knowledge and scientific research on Cold Climate (Arctic) Studies. A Memorandum of Cooperation between NCPOR and POLAR Canada was signed in February 2020.

Artificial intelligence and digital technology

The two Prime Ministers welcomed the adoption of the Australia-Canada-India Technology and Innovation (ACITI) Partnership on 22 November 2025. At the invitation of the Minister of Electronics and Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Canada's Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation, Mr. Evan Solomon, attended the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on 19-20 February 2026. The AI Ministers of India, Canada and Australia met on its sidelines on 19 February 2026.

Following that meeting, India, Canada and Australia signed a trilateral MoU on Cooperation in Technology and Innovation. They agreed to develop a joint work plan for practical trilateral cooperation in artificial intelligence and digital technologies, in areas including digital infrastructure, semiconductor and electronics manufacturing, high-performance computing, the Internet-of-Things (IoT), cybersecurity and startup ecosystems.

During Prime Minister Carney's visit in March 2026, India and Canada agreed to explore joint initiatives to integrate AI into space and aerospace technologies. They also agreed to collaborate on AI-assisted tools to strengthen diagnostic capabilities for delivering healthcare in remote regions.

Space

During the same visit, the two sides discussed strengthening a strategic partnership in space cooperation between their space agencies and private sectors. The brief states that this collaboration is to be guided by an Implementation Arrangement under the existing MoU, aimed at operationalising joint projects and facilitating technical cooperation in new and emerging domains.

Environment and agriculture

The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Department of Environment of Climate Change Canada held the 2nd Joint Committee Meeting on Environment in New Delhi on 30 January 2026. The Joint Working Group meeting on agricultural cooperation was held virtually on 25 February 2026.

Among the announcements made during Prime Minister Carney's visit was the establishment of a Canada-India Pulse Protein Centre of Excellence at NIFTEM Kundli.