India and Canada are now working to ease diplomatic tensions that escalated in recent years, particularly after the killing of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023.

Steps Towards Resolution

To improve relations, both nations plan to send back their envoys after last year’s tit-for-tat expulsions. In October 2023, India expelled six Canadian diplomats after withdrawing its high commissioner. At the time, Canadian authorities had labeled the envoy a "person of interest" in their investigation into Nijjar’s murder.

Furthermore, Canada’s intelligence chief Daniel Rogers recently attended an intelligence conference in New Delhi, hosted by India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Additionally, a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian leader Mark Carney may take place at the G-7 summit in Alberta this June.

The India-Canada Dispute

Tensions peaked in September 2023 when former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged that Indian agents had links to Nijjar’s killing. However, India dismissed these claims as “absurd and motivated.” Consequently, trade relations also suffered, especially as both countries now face US President Donald Trump’s new tariffs, which will impact their economies.

Renewed Diplomatic Efforts

Meanwhile, a Canadian official told Bloomberg that Ottawa has been working for months to improve ties with India. However, this effort depends on New Delhi’s respect for Canadian laws. Notably, this stance has not changed, even after Trudeau left office.

As a result, many countries, including Canada, are now strengthening trade ties with new partners to reduce their reliance on the US. In fact, Mark Carney, Canada’s new Liberal Party leader, emphasized the importance of rebuilding relations with India. On March 4, he stated, “What Canada will be looking to do is to diversify our trading relationships with like-minded countries, and there are opportunities to rebuild the relationships with India.”

India's Position

On the other hand, India’s Ministry of External Affairs acknowledged the strain in bilateral relations. However, it blamed Canada for allowing extremist and secessionist groups to operate freely. On March 21, ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal explained, “The downturn in India-Canada relations was caused by the license that was given to the extremist and secessionist elements in the country. Our hope is that we can rebuild our ties based on mutual trust and sensitivity.”

Looking Ahead

Going forward, both nations aim to improve diplomatic and trade ties. Nevertheless, national security concerns and foreign policies will play a crucial role in shaping the future of India-Canada relations.