India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval undertook a two-day visit to Canada this weekend, during which he met Nathalie Drouin, the outgoing Deputy Clerk and National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister of Canada, as well as Public Affairs Minister Gary Anandasangaree.

The meeting with Drouin has drawn attention in political circles, particularly as she is preparing to assume a diplomatic posting in Paris. Officials noted that it may have been preferable for her successor to engage with the Indian NSA, given the range of sensitive issues between the two countries, including law and order, transnational crime, and an expanding list of extradition requests.

Drouin was appointed Canada’s Ambassador to France and Monaco last week. Announcing her appointment, Prime Minister Mark Carney said she brings three decades of experience and leadership across diplomacy and public service. Her previous roles include Deputy Clerk of the Privy Council and National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister, Associate Secretary to the Cabinet, and Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Canada.

She has also served as Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General for the Quebec government and held several positions within the Autorité des marchés financiers. Drouin has played a central role in implementing Prime Minister Carney’s foreign policy strategy. Her successor as National Security and Intelligence Advisor has yet to be named.

Doval’s visit to Canada, from February 6, was kept closely guarded and formed part of the regular bilateral security dialogue between the two countries. It marked a return visit following the Canadian NSA’s trip to India last year. An official statement was released by India’s Ministry of External Affairs at the conclusion of the visit.

The statement said both sides acknowledged progress on initiatives aimed at supporting the safety and security of their countries and citizens. They agreed on a shared work plan to guide bilateral cooperation on national security and law enforcement issues and to facilitate practical collaboration on respective priorities.

During discussions between Doval and Drouin, the two sides agreed to establish security and law enforcement liaison officers and to strengthen working relationships between their respective agencies. According to the statement, this step is intended to streamline bilateral communications and enable timely information sharing on issues of mutual concern, including the illegal flow of drugs, particularly “fentanyl precursors, and transnational organized criminal networks.”

The two National Security Advisors also committed to formalizing “cooperation on cybersecurity policy and information sharing on cybersecurity issues, as well as continuing discussions on cooperation related to fraud and immigration enforcement, consistent with domestic laws and international obligations,” the statement added. 

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