Canada signals energy, defence and uranium cooperation with India amid thaw in ties
Canada's High Commissioner to India has said Ottawa offers India a range of energy options, as both countries look to deepen cooperation after a prolonged diplomatic chill. In remarks published on Sunday, Christopher Cooter also pointed to possible collaboration on defence, uranium supply and security concerns. The comments come as India and Canada continue a cautious reset in relations that were badly strained in 2023.
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Cooter's interview comes almost a year after the two countries announced new envoys following the collapse in ties over allegations linked to the killing of Canada-based Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Canada's then prime minister Justin Trudeau had alleged potential involvement by Indian government agents, a claim India rejected as absurd and motivated. The current Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, met Narendra Modi at the G7 leaders' summit in Kananaskis in June 2025, which was described as the beginning of the restoration of ties.
The latest remarks are significant because they place energy and strategic resources at the centre of the thaw. Canada is one of the world's major uranium producers, and the interview suggests that supply issues may now be part of a broader effort to rebuild trust. The discussion also included defence and security, indicating that the relationship is not being limited to trade or symbolic diplomacy.
For India, which is seeking diversified partnerships, the prospect of a wider Canadian role may be politically and economically relevant. The interview also reflects a broader shift in Ottawa's foreign policy under Carney, who has emphasised pragmatic relations and diversification. Cooter said pressure from the United States on Canada's economy had pushed the government to look for other reliable partners.
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He described India as a breakout country in the Indo-Pacific, language that underlines how Canada is reassessing its priorities in Asia. That framing matters because it suggests the bilateral reset is being driven not only by diplomacy, but also by wider strategic and economic calculations. The relationship between the two countries has been marked by repeated ups and downs over several decades, but the rupture in 2023 was especially severe.
The Nijjar case became the central point of dispute, with both sides hardening their positions and diplomatic engagement sharply reduced. The appointment of new high commissioners last year was the first clear sign of a reversal, and the meeting between Modi and Carney in 2025 added momentum to that process. The current discussion of energy and defence cooperation suggests the two governments are now trying to turn that political thaw into practical engagement.
Cooter also referred to security concerns linked to Khalistan elements, showing that the underlying political sensitivities have not disappeared. That is important because any deeper cooperation will likely depend on whether both sides can manage those concerns without another public breakdown. The fact that the conversation now includes uranium supply may also matter for India's long-term energy planning, although no specific deal was announced.
The interview therefore points to a relationship that is improving, but still shaped by unresolved mistrust. What remains unclear is how far the two governments are prepared to go in turning these signals into concrete agreements. The expected Modi-Carney meeting at the G7 summit in France next week may provide a clearer indication of whether energy, defence and security cooperation can advance further.
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It is also not yet clear whether any specific uranium or defence arrangements are being negotiated. For now, the main development is that both sides appear willing to keep the reset moving, even as sensitive political issues remain in the background.
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