Overview

• Dinesh K. Patnaik, currently India’s ambassador to Spain, was officially named New Delhi’s next envoy to Ottawa and is expected to take up the assignment shortly.
• Canada designated veteran diplomat Christopher Cooter as high commissioner to India, with Global Affairs describing the step as key to restoring services for citizens and businesses.
• The announcements follow a June meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister Mark Carney at the G7, where both agreed to the early return of top envoys.
• Reporting indicates Canada accelerated the agrément process for Patnaik, underscoring intent to re-establish functioning diplomatic channels after expulsions and withdrawals last year.
• The appointments create conditions to rebuild trust, improve consular capacity, and explore resumption of paused economic engagement, even as investigations linked to the Nijjar case continue to shape ties.