The Pulse

India-Canada Ties Are Caught in Downward Spiral

Recent Features

The Pulse | Diplomacy | South Asia

India-Canada Ties Are Caught in Downward Spiral

Sikh separatism has long strained bilateral relations. Now it’s sunk them to their lowest point in years.

India-Canada Ties Are Caught in Downward Spiral

An Indian paramilitary soldier stands guard next to a police barricade outside the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi, India, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023.

Credit: AP Photo/Altaf Qadri

Canada-India relations have sunk to their lowest point in years as the two countries are swapping accusations and expelling each other’s diplomats over the killing of a Sikh separatist leader and Canadian national. Experts said it remains to be seen if the murder will create a lasting rift between the two U.S. allies, but it’s nonetheless an awkward situation for Western countries wooing New Delhi as a counterweight to China and seeking to win its cooperation on the Ukraine war.

Five years ago, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau captured headlines in India for enthusiastically embracing the country’s culture during a weeklong trip with his family. He donned a series of colorful, glittering traditional Indian suits, visited monuments, and even received Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s signature bear hug — a sign that their relationship was on the upswing.

[...]
Dreaming of a career in the Asia-Pacific?
Try The Diplomat's jobs board.
Find your Asia-Pacific job