By Dr. Gaurav Saini, Co-Founder, Council for Strategic and Defense Research
 

Following the landmark India–Canada Defence Dialogue announced by Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Mark Carney on March 2, 2026, this report examines how the two countries can strengthen their defence partnership through Professional Military Education (PME) and joint exercises.

Despite complementary strengths — India’s extensive experience in high-altitude operations, jungle warfare, and peacekeeping, paired with Canada’s Arctic and cold-weather expertise — bilateral military ties remain underdeveloped. There is currently no named bilateral exercise series or standing officer exchange program.

The report proposes a practical six-pillar PME framework and a four-tier exercise architecture that can begin immediately at the unclassified level. These initiatives aim to build officer-to-officer relationships, shared professional understanding, and long-term interoperability without waiting for a General Security of Information Agreement. This timely report offers actionable recommendations to convert the 2026 political reset into durable defence co-operation.

This report was produced as part of the India-Canada Research Initiative (ICRI), an APF Canada-Council for Strategic Defense Research (India) Joint Initiative. The ICRI provides a platform to strengthen bilateral relations between India and Canada through academic exchange, policy research, and strategic engagement, with a focus on enhancing bilateral co-operation across key sectors.