Canada, India name new high commissioners in step toward ‘deepening’ ties
Global News
The diplomatic appointments were agreed to in a meeting between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the G7 summit in June.
Canada and India announced Thursday they have appointed new high commissioners to each other’s countries, a step towards “deepening” diplomatic ties despite multiple allegations of foreign interference by Indian agents on Canadian soil.
Christopher Cooter, a diplomat with 35 years of experience who served in New Delhi more than 25 years ago, will serve as Canada’s new high commissioner to India, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said.
“The appointment of a new High Commissioner reflects Canada’s step-by-step approach to deepening diplomatic engagement and advancing bilateral cooperation with India,” Anand said in a statement.
“This is an important development toward restoring services for Canadians while strengthening the bilateral relationship to support Canada’s economy.”
India’s foreign ministry said its new high commissioner to Canada, Dinesh K. Patnaik, is “expected to take up the assignment shortly.” Patnaik had served as India’s ambassador to Spain since 2021.
The diplomatic appointments were agreed to in a meeting between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was invited to June’s G7 summit in Alberta. The leaders agreed to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties.
Both Canada and India are seeking to diversify their economies in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump’s global tariff policies. Trump’s tariffs on India were raised to 50 per cent on Wednesday, while U.S. tariffs on Canada jumped to 35 per cent on Aug. 1.
The G7 summit saw leaders agree to combat “transnational repression” — something India has been repeatedly accused of conducting in Canada.
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