India–Canada Defence Relations In a Changing Global Order

Syllabus: GS2/International Relations

Context

• India and Canada are seeing a resurgence in engagement after the India-Canada Joint Leaders’ Statement, with defence, critical minerals, space and technology cooperation emerging as priorities for both countries in the changing global security environment.

About India-Canada Relations

• India and Canada share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership based on democratic values, rule of law, people-to-people ties, and expanding economic cooperation.
• The recent Joint Leaders’ Statement was a reaffirmation of cooperation in trade, clean energy, critical minerals, defence, innovation and the Indo-Pacific, and the restoration of high-level political engagement.
• Canada views India as an important partner in the creation of a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, while India views Canada as an important source of technology, investment, education and strategic resources.
• The two countries also cooperate through multilateral forums such as the G20, United Nations, Commonwealth, and WTO.

India–Canada Defence Cooperation

• Military Cooperation: India and Canada have reaccredited Defence Advisers in New Delhi and Ottawa to strengthen military engagement.
  • Both countries agreed to institutionalise a Defence Dialogue to identify priority areas and improve strategic coordination.
  • The Indian and Canadian Navies have participated together in multilateral exercises such as RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific Exercise); and Exercise Talisman Sabre.
  • A delegation from the National Defence College, India will visit Canada in 2026 to advance professional military education and exchanges of officers.
• Technology and Defence Industrial Collaboration: Modern warfare is driven by drones, autonomous systems, artificial intelligence, cyber capabilities and advanced aerospace technologies that creates opportunities for deeper collaboration.
  • Canada has invested roughly $500 million in next-generation aerospace technologies, including drone innovation, and established the Defence Investment and Industrial Agencies to streamline procurement and diversify supply chains.
  • These research ecosystems in Canada  are suitable to India’s expanding manufacturing capacity under ‘Make in India’ and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
• Strategic Cooperation in Space: Potential areas of cooperation could be in the field of satellite technologies, space robotics, earth observation, maritime domain awareness, space based security applications.
  • Canada’s satellite constellation RADARSAT can be a boost to India’s maritime surveillance and navy capabilities, particularly in the Indo-Pacific.
• Critical Minerals Partnership: Critical minerals are now vital for defence manufacturing, semiconductors, electric vehicles, renewable energy and advanced electronics.
  • Canada has the tenth-largest reserves of critical minerals, third-largest recoverable uranium resources, about 5% of the world’s tungsten reserves, close to 24% of the world’s uranium production (2024), and 31 critical mineral reserves.
  • India and Canada signed MoU on Critical Minerals Value Chain (2026) to boost resilient supply chains. It helps Canada diversify to trusted markets and supports India’s goal of secure access to strategic minerals.

Related Challenges and Issues

• Legacy diplomatic tensions have affected political trust and bilateral cooperation.
• Differences on security concerns and law enforcement issues remain to require continued communication.
• Defence cooperation is still in its early stages and has few institutional mechanisms.
• Global competition for critical minerals could impact supply security.
• Regulatory barriers, technology transfer restrictions and different procurement systems could slow down defence industrial cooperation.
• The Indo-Pacific and West Asia are experiencing geopolitical uncertainty that is changing strategic priorities.

Way Forward: India – Canada Relationship

• The India–Canada Defence Dialogue should be institutionalised through regular ministerial and military-level consultations.
• Increase joint naval exercises, military training and officers exchanges to improve interoperability.
• Promoting co-development and co-production in aerospace, drones, AI-enabled defence systems and cyber technologies.
• Operationalise the Critical Minerals Value Chain MoU with long term investment and resilient supply chains.
• Enhance cooperation in space technology, satellite applications and maritime domain awareness.
• Foster innovation through collaboration between academia, research institutions, start-ups and the defence industry.
• Broader strategic ties underpinned by defence cooperation, with expanded economic engagement through greater trade, investment and technology links.

Source: TH