Canada's Minister of International Trade, Maninder Sidhu, has underlined the importance of the India-Canada security dialogue in addressing threats such as violent extremism, organised crime, money laundering and transnational criminal activities, while strengthening broader bilateral relations.

Speaking in Bangalore, Sidhu said economic cooperation and security collaboration are closely linked, describing both as essential pillars of the relationship between the two countries.

He noted that Canada's Minister of Public Safety is leading the security discussions and confirmed that senior Canadian Government officials were recently in India to continue engagements with their Indian counterparts.

According to Sidhu, the dialogue is focused on protecting communities in both countries from threats including violent extremism, organised crime, money laundering and cross-border criminal operations.

He stressed that Canada and India remain committed to ensuring that the sovereignty of both nations is respected throughout the process and said discussions would continue with the objective of enhancing public safety and mutual trust.

His remarks follow the latest round of India-Canada security talks involving senior national security officials, held in New Delhi from 5 to 7 October as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen security and law-enforcement cooperation.

The discussions took place during the visit of David Morrison, Senior Diplomatic and International Affairs Advisor to the Canadian Prime Minister, at the invitation of National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

Both sides reviewed progress made under the bilateral Security Work Plan agreed in February 2026 and assessed the implementation of commitments already undertaken.

India and Canada agreed to deepen cooperation against transnational organised crime, terrorism, violent extremism, human trafficking, drug trafficking, cybercrime and extortion. The two countries also committed to strengthening collaboration on the extradition of criminal offenders and improving practical cooperation between relevant agencies.

Officials explored additional areas of engagement, including structured dialogues on cybersecurity and economic security, reflecting the expanding scope of bilateral cooperation.

The talks highlighted the importance of reinforcing institutional mechanisms and establishing new channels where required to enable quicker communication and more effective information-sharing on issues of mutual concern.

Both governments acknowledged the sustained and constructive engagement maintained over the past year, guided by mutual respect, trust and recognition of each other's concerns and sensitivities.

The discussions also included progress on negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which is intended to reduce trade barriers, improve market access and expand commercial opportunities for businesses in both countries.

In parallel, the two sides examined prospects for developing a more substantive bilateral defence relationship in line with the priorities of their respective leaderships.

The fifth round of CEPA negotiations was held in Ottawa from 5 to 9 October, covering key areas such as market access for goods and services, investment, rules of origin, intellectual property rights and trade remedies.

Negotiators are scheduled to reconvene in New Delhi in early November as both countries seek to accelerate progress on the proposed trade agreement and broaden cooperation across economic, security and strategic sectors.

ANI