Ottawa — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to depart for Mumbai, India, at 10:00 a.m. local time today, Thursday, February 26, 2026, marking the beginning of an ambitious ten-day diplomatic mission across the Indo-Pacific. This high-stakes tour, which includes stops in India, Australia, and Japan, represents Carney’s first major foray into the region since assuming office and signals a significant reset in Canada’s international trade and security strategy.
The Prime Minister’s first stop in Mumbai will focus on forging deep industrial ties before he travels to New Delhi for a pivotal summit with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two leaders are expected to formally elevate the Canada-India relationship through a series of new partnerships in artificial intelligence (AI), clean energy, and defence. A primary objective of the visit is to accelerate negotiations for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), a deal aimed at more than doubling two-way trade from the current $31 billion to an ambitious $70 billion by 2030.
Following his engagements in India, Carney will fly to Sydney and Canberra to meet with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. In a historic moment for Canadian diplomacy, Carney is set to become the first Canadian leader in nearly two decades to address both Houses of the Australian Parliament. The Australian leg of the trip will prioritize maritime security and cooperation on critical minerals, which are essential for Canada’s burgeoning green technology sector.
The tour will conclude in Tokyo, where Carney will hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae. Discussions in Japan are expected to centre on food security, advanced manufacturing, and joint efforts to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. “In a more uncertain world, Canada is focused on what we can control,” Carney stated prior to his departure. “We are diversifying our trade and attracting massive new investment to create new opportunities for our workers and businesses.”
