Both countries identify defence industrial cooperation, military-technical engagement and research and development as priority areas for collaboration
New Delhi: India and Canada held their inaugural Defence Dialogue virtually on November 3, 2026, marking a step towards strengthening bilateral defence and strategic engagement. The meeting provided a platform for both countries to exchange views on their respective defence policies, strategic outlooks and potential areas of cooperation.
The dialogue was co-chaired by Dr Amit Telang, Joint Secretary (International Cooperation), Ministry of Defence, Government of India, and Scott Millar, Assistant Deputy Minister (Policy), Department of National Defence, Canada.
During the discussions, both sides reviewed opportunities to expand defence cooperation and identified several areas for deeper engagement. Defence industrial cooperation emerged as an important focus, with military-technical cooperation and defence research and development also identified as priority areas for further collaboration.
The inaugural dialogue enabled the two countries to discuss their respective approaches to defence and security matters while exploring practical avenues for advancing bilateral engagement. Both delegations exchanged perspectives on regional and global developments, reflecting their interest in maintaining regular communication on issues of mutual concern.
The discussions also focused on identifying specific deliverables that could help translate the broader commitment to stronger defence relations into tangible outcomes. Both sides considered proposals to advance the partnership in a comprehensive manner, with an emphasis on strengthening cooperation across identified priority areas.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment at the leadership level to expand defence and strategic engagement between India and Canada. This commitment was reflected in the Joint Statement issued on March 2, 2026, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The dialogue represents an institutional platform for continued engagement between the defence establishments of the two countries. By bringing together officials responsible for defence policy and international cooperation, the mechanism is expected to facilitate discussions on emerging opportunities, identify areas of mutual interest and support the development of practical cooperation initiatives.
Defence industrial cooperation is among the key areas identified for further engagement. The discussions also highlighted the potential for military-technical collaboration and joint work in research and development, which could contribute to strengthening the broader defence partnership.
Both countries agreed to remain in contact to take forward the discussions and proposals put forward during the inaugural meeting. The continued engagement is intended to support the expansion of bilateral defence cooperation and advance the shared objective of strengthening India–Canada strategic relations.
