At G7, PM Modi and Carney push India-Canada intelligence-sharing with formal talks breakthrough

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney have agreed to launch formal negotiations on a major intelligence and classified data-sharing pact.

The breakthrough occurred during a bilateral meeting on Tuesday on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in the French resort town of Evian-les-Bains, solidifying an ongoing strategic reset between New Delhi and Ottawa under Canada's new leadership.

The proposed agreement, known as a General Security of Information Agreement (GSOIA), will establish strict legal protocols to govern and protect the exchange of highly sensitive defence and national security intelligence between the two democracies.

Building a 'shield' for defence ties

The decision to initiate GSOIA talks signals a powerful renewal of bilateral trust. A standard GSOIA serves as a legal "information shield," setting out mutual rights and obligations to ensure classified military data, technology, and intelligence remain secure when shared or held in foreign custody.

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The move follows recent institutional steps forward, including a high-profile visit by the National Defence College of India to Canada earlier this year.

"To further deepen defense and security cooperation, the Prime Ministers agreed to launch negotiations on a General Security of Information Agreement," both governments confirmed in a joint press statement.

Parallel to the security track, Modi and Carney injected urgency into economic talks. The two leaders reviewed the ongoing negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (Cepa), a massive free-trade deal, and set an ambitious, binding deadline to conclude the pact by the end of 2026.

The primary objective of Cepa is to double bilateral merchandise and services trade to $55 billion by 2030. Negotiators from both sides are aiming to hammer out the framework ahead of the upcoming G20 Summit hosted by President Donald Trump in Miami this December.

Beyond traditional goods, the leaders heavily focused on long-term energy security. India, positioned to be the world's largest contributor to global energy demand growth over the next two decades, reviewed commercial pipelines with Canada for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), and metallurgical coal. This builds directly upon New Delhi's landmark $2 billion procurement deal for Canadian uranium signed earlier this year to power India's clean energy transition.

"In less than a year, it is our fourth meeting, indicating our commitment to strong India-Canada ties," Prime Minister Modi posted on X following the bilateral talks. "We reviewed the full range of relations between our nations, notably the ground covered since we last met."

As part of the expanding geopolitical alignment, Modi expressed India's formal support for Canada’s bid to become a Dialogue Partner in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

The two leaders also announced the establishment of "Raisina Americas," a brand-new platform designed to foster deep policy dialogue and institutional exchanges between India and the Western Hemisphere.

To seal the rapprochement, PM Modi accepted an official invitation from Carney to pay a state visit to Canada later this year.