Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly has refrained from confirming reports that India has requested Canada to reduce its diplomatic staff in India by two-thirds. She stated that the Canadian government is in contact with the Indian government and takes the safety of Canadian diplomats seriously. Ms. Joly emphasized the importance of keeping diplomatic conversations private.
The strained relationship between Canada and India began on September 18 when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accused India of involvement in the killing of Sikh secessionist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia in June. Since then, relations between the two countries have deteriorated. On October 3, The Associated Press reported that New Delhi had asked Ottawa to reduce its diplomatic presence from 62 to 21 individuals. While India’s Ministry of External Affairs did not immediately confirm the report, its spokesperson indicated on September 21 that a request had been made to Canada for a reduction in staff.
India highlighted the need for parity in the number and rank of diplomats between the two countries. The Global Affairs Canada website lists 60 accredited Indian diplomats in Canada, with three being non-resident, suggesting a near balance. The exact number of Canadian diplomats in India has not been confirmed, but Global Affairs Canada stated on September 21 that it was scaling back its presence due to security concerns. Consequently, India announced on the same day that it would cease issuing visas to Canadian citizens.
India has criticized Mr. Trudeau’s accusations as baseless, while the prime minister has not provided evidence to support his claims. However, U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Cohen asserted that the intelligence informing Mr. Trudeau’s decision came from the Five Eyes intelligence alliance. Despite the strained relations, the United States and the United Kingdom, both of which are working on strengthening ties with India, have not deviated from their course.
Ms. Joly emphasized the importance of maintaining a strong diplomatic presence in India, particularly during the current tensions.