Vincent Rigby on Strained Canada-India Diplomatic Relationship | The Globe and Mail
October 15, 2024 |聽Vincent Rigby wrote an article about the 聽in The Globe and Mail. The Canadian government expelled six Indian diplomats, including the High Commissioner, brought聽India-Canada聽relations聽to聽their lowest ebb in 40 years. India as a response, expelled聽six Canadian diplomats from New Delhi, as a tit-for-tat strategy.聽
India-Canada聽relations have been strained for years. The deterioration can be traced back聽to聽the Air聽India聽bombing of 1985, but it reached its nadir under the Trudeau and Modi governments. For聽India, the central issue has been Ottawa鈥檚 perceived unwillingness聽to聽tackle Sikh extremism within聽Canada.
Rigby suggested that聽Canada聽must do two things in response. First, it must not soften its stance. It needs聽to聽show resolve. This episode also proves once again that if the government does not take national security seriously in an increasingly unstable world,聽Canada聽will pay the price. Second, Ottawa needs聽to聽work closely with its key Western allies. Strong public messaging from our Five Eyes partners condemning Indian actions will be critical. Washington, in particular, must play聽a聽more active role in helping find聽a聽way forward.
