Harjit Sidhu, who holds the international trade portfolio in the Canadian cabinet, put forward the security exchange between India and Canada as a channel for addressing concerns spanning violent extremism, organised crime, money laundering, and cross-border criminal networks, framing it as one strand within a broader effort to deepen ties between the two countries.

Addressing an audience in Bangalore, Sidhu put forward the view that economic ties and security arrangements between the two nations reinforce one another, framing each as a foundational element of the bilateral relationship. Sidhu stated that the talks centre on shielding communities in both nations from a range of threats — among them violent extremism, organised crime, money laundering, and criminal activity that spans borders.

Canada's Public Safety Minister has been placed at the centre of the bilateral security talks, with government officials having travelled to India in recent weeks to maintain direct dialogue with their counterparts there. Both governments, according to the statement, remain aligned on upholding each other's sovereign rights throughout the process, with talks set to continue toward the shared goals of greater public safety and stronger bilateral trust.

Those comments came after a three-day meeting of senior national security officials from both countries, convened in New Delhi between 5 and 7 October as part of a broader bilateral effort to advance cooperation on security and law enforcement. Talks between the two sides took place when David Morrison — who holds the role of Senior Diplomatic and International Affairs Adviser to the Canadian Prime Minister — travelled at the request of National Security Adviser Ajit Doval.

Delegates from each party examined how far the bilateral Security Work Plan — put in place in February 2026 — had advanced, and took stock of whether commitments made under it were being carried through. Both countries reached a joint commitment to strengthen their work together across a range of cross-border threats, including organised crime networks, terrorism, violent extremism, the trafficking of people and drugs, cybercrime, and extortion.

Both nations pledged to deepen ties on handing over wanted offenders across borders, alongside tighter day-to-day coordination among the agencies involved. Talks between the two sides widened to take in formal exchanges on cybersecurity and economic security, pointing to a relationship whose shared agenda has grown beyond its original boundaries.

Bolstering existing institutional frameworks while opening fresh lines of contact where gaps were identified emerged as a priority, with both sides pointing to faster communication and better-coordinated sharing of information on shared concerns as the desired outcome. Over the preceding year, the two sides described their exchanges as steady and productive, shaped by a shared willingness to take each other's positions and sensitivities into account.

Talks also covered the state of a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), an accord aimed at lowering trade barriers, broadening market entry, and opening up fresh commercial avenues for firms operating on either side. Talks between the two parties also turned to the question of building a more meaningful defence partnership, guided by what each side's leadership had set out as its governing aims.

Delegates from both sides convened in Ottawa between 5 and 9 October for the fifth round of CEPA talks, working through a broad agenda that spanned goods and services access, investment provisions, rules of origin, intellectual property, and trade remedy frameworks. Further talks are scheduled to take place in New Delhi during early November, with delegations from both nations aiming to push the proposed trade deal forward while expanding ties across economic, security, and strategic areas.