TORONTO, Feb 24 (V7N) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney departs for India this week to kick off a high-stakes Asia-Pacific tour aimed at doubling trade and repairing fractured diplomatic relations. The trip, which includes stops in Australia and Japan, represents a strategic shift by the Carney administration to insulate the Canadian economy from an increasingly protectionist United States. The Prime Minister has argued that the old US-led global order is fading and that Canada must forge new, independent partnerships to ensure its long-term economic security.

The mission comes amid heightened tensions with Washington, as President Donald Trump continues to impose heavy tariffs on Canadian autos, aluminum, lumber, and steel. Carney has been vocal about the need to hedge against a "mercurial" White House, especially following social media posts from the US President depicting a map where Canada is annexed under the American flag. With critical negotiations to revise North American trade deals looming, Ottawa is moving aggressively to expand its international trade footprint beyond its southern neighbor.

India is the first and perhaps most sensitive stop on the itinerary, as Carney and Prime Minister Narendra Modi attempt to repair ties that effectively ruptured in 2024. The diplomatic fallout followed Canadian accusations of New Delhi's involvement in the assassination of a Sikh leader on Canadian soil, a claim India denied. Despite the friction, Carney has set an ambitious target to more than double bilateral trade to CAN$70 billion ($51 billion) by 2030, signaling a mutual desire to prioritize economic pragmatism over past grievances.

Following his visit to India, the Prime Minister will travel to Sydney and Canberra for meetings with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. These discussions are expected to focus heavily on economic security, defense cooperation, and the supply of critical minerals. Both leaders have emphasized the necessity of deepening partnerships among like-minded nations to navigate a more volatile global landscape, particularly as regional security challenges in the Indo-Pacific continue to evolve.

The final leg of the tour will take Carney to Japan for talks with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Japan remains a cornerstone of Canada’s Indo-Pacific strategy, with both nations seeking to strengthen collaboration in advanced technology and energy sectors. By engaging with three of the region's largest economies in a single trip, Carney hopes to demonstrate that Canada is no longer solely dependent on the North American market for its prosperity and growth.

Prime Minister Carney is scheduled to return to Canada on March 7, concluding a journey that many analysts see as a defining moment for his foreign policy. "In a more uncertain world, Canada is focused on what we can control," Carney stated ahead of his departure, reinforcing his message of national resilience. The success of this tour will likely be measured by whether these new diplomatic overtures can translate into the concrete trade certainties Canada currently lacks with the United States.

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