India-Canada Bilateral Relations: Key Focus Areas
Security and Crime
- India and Canada have agreed to deepen collaboration on issues such as violent extremism, terrorism, and organized crime, with a particular focus on tackling Sikh extremism.
- Efforts to combat the illegal flow of narcotics, cybercrime, extortion, financial fraud, and criminal networks are prioritized.
- The leaders have endorsed the establishment of security and law-enforcement liaison mechanisms to facilitate effective communication and information sharing.
Cybersecurity and Immigration
- Both countries are committed to strengthening cooperation on cybersecurity and immigration enforcement, aligned with domestic laws and international obligations.
- There is a focus on enhancing cooperation through a shared workplan on national security and law enforcement priorities.
Counterterrorism Efforts
- The two leaders emphasized the importance of addressing terrorism, extremism, and radicalization as global challenges.
- They called for an early meeting of the Joint Working Group on Counterterrorism to further these efforts.
Defence and Military Cooperation
- India and Canada aim to expand practical military cooperation through joint training opportunities and military exchanges.
- A new maritime security partnership will focus on defence material cooperation, supply chain resilience, and training exercises.
- Plans to institutionalize an India-Canada Defence Dialogue have been agreed upon, with the appointment of defence attachés as a key step.
Overall, the summit between PM Narendra Modi and Canadian PM Mark Carney marks a significant step towards resetting bilateral ties and enhancing cooperation across multiple spheres, including security, cybercrime, and defence, with an emphasis on addressing common global challenges.