The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada welcomed Dr. C. Raja Mohan — an eminent Indian expert on geopolitics, strategic affairs, and global governance issues — as its inaugural Indo-Pacific Visiting Scholar to Canada for a week-long tour in March, with stops in Montreal, Toronto, Waterloo, and Ottawa. Dr. Mohan engaged with Canadian academia, media, government, and policy communities through a series of public and private events and dialogues.
These events offered Canadian stakeholders a unique opportunity to engage directly with one of the foremost thinkers on Indian foreign policy and Indo-Pacific affairs — particularly timely as Canada and India, despite diplomatic challenges, face a growing urgency to collaborate in an increasingly volatile geo-economic and geopolitical landscape. As a rising power, India is expected to play a vital role in the emerging world order and the Indo-Pacific region. This makes it a critical partner for Canada, which is seeking to diversify trade and engage more deeply in this dynamic, vibrant, and strategically important region.
During Dr. Mohan’s tour, discussions focused on identifying constructive ways to address bilateral tensions and exploring the potential for deeper and more resilient co-operation in areas such as trade and investment, defence and security, and technology and innovation. Dr. Mohan's extensive expertise provided valuable insights into strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries — a collaboration that involves not only federal governments but also sub-national actors, the private sector, and civil society.
Overview of Events and Engagements
- As the global rules-based order faces unprecedented disruption from U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and foreign policy shifts, countries like Canada and India find themselves at a crossroads — navigating both challenges and opportunities for deeper bilateral co-operation based on shared interests in trade, energy security, emerging technologies, and the Indo-Pacific. Dr. Mohan explored these topics in a public lecture and sat down with Prof. Yann Roche from the Université du Québec à Montréal at Cérium, Université de Montréal, to unpack the effects of current geopolitical realignments on Canada-India relations. You can watch the full event video below.
- As the Indo-Pacific region becomes increasingly significant amid escalating global uncertainties and tensions, understanding India’s role as a rising power is more crucial than ever. Canadian and Indian perspectives on the Indo-Pacific — including shared security concerns over growing Chinese assertiveness and strategic opportunities for collaboration — were at the centre of Dr. Mohan’s discussions at McGill University. He was joined by a distinguished panel of Canadian experts: Prof. T.V. Paul (McGill University), Ms. Vina Nadjibulla (Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada), Mr. Vincent Rigby (former national security and intelligence advisor to the prime minister of Canada), and Mr. Christopher Neal (Canadian International Council). You can watch the full event video below.
- With the world’s largest population and a projected rise to the third-largest global economy by 2027, India’s economic growth, infrastructure expansion, and potential as a manufacturing and investment hub are remarkable — though not without challenges. Dr. Mohan discussed India’s complex economic and security landscape and the potential for strengthening Canada-India partnerships during closed-door roundtable conversations with stakeholders from governments and the business communities in Montreal, Toronto, and Ottawa.
- In Ottawa, Dr. Mohan also engaged in closed-door discussions with federal government stakeholders on India’s strategic positioning in the Indo-Pacific, New Delhi’s response to shifting global alignments, and the potential for a reset in Canada-India relations.
- Dr. Mohan visited the Centre for International Governance Innovation in Waterloo to discuss India’s artificial intelligence and emerging tech strategies. He unpacked the potential and limitations of deepening bilateral co-operation in areas such as AI, outer space, emerging technologies, the digital economy, and critical minerals.
- On the sidelines of his Canadian tour, Dr. Mohan sat down with APF Canada’s Vice-President, Research & Strategy, Vina Nadjibulla, to record the podcast Asia Pacific Conversations: The World View from India with Dr. Raja Mohan (listen here). They took a deep dive into New Delhi’s response to the Trump presidency, its evolving foreign policy objectives, and Dr. Mohan’s renewed hope for Canada-India relations as both countries seek new partnerships in an increasingly fragmented world.
- During his stop in Montreal, Dr. Mohan was interviewed by La Presse, where he highlighted the complementarities between Canada and India amid the destabilization of international trade and the weakening of major multilateral institutions caused by President Trump’s policies. You can read this conversation here.
The Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada thanks the Government of Canada for its generous support to the Indo-Pacific Visiting Scholars Program, along with partners and co-sponsors of events.
About the Indo-Pacific Visiting Scholars Program
The Indo-Pacific Visiting Scholars Program is a new initiative by the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, supported by the Government of Canada, aimed at deepening Canada’s understanding and engagement with the dynamic Indo-Pacific region. Through this program, eminent scholars and thought leaders will travel to Canada to share their insights and expertise on the region’s challenges and opportunities in security, technology, and economics. They will facilitate deeper dialogue with Canadian policymakers, business leaders, academics, and media representatives. With this initiative, the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada aims to build enduring relationships, enhance policy-relevant knowledge, and strengthen Canada’s ties with leading voices across the Indo-Pacific.
