Canada has withdrawn 41 diplomats from India following India’s request for their removal, alleging interference in internal affairs. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau criticized India for revoking the diplomatic immunity of 40 diplomats, which he deemed a breach of fundamental diplomatic principles. He asserted that India’s actions violated the Vienna Convention and should be a cause for concern globally. Trudeau also raised concerns about the alleged murder of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar and claimed that India was disrupting normal life for millions of people in both India and Canada.
Speaking at an event in Brampton, Trudeau stated, “The actions that the Government of India took this week are themselves contrary to international law. The Government of India decided to unilaterally revoke the diplomatic immunity of 40 Canadian diplomats in India. This is a violation of the Vienna Convention governing diplomacy…It is something that all countries in the world should be worried about, and this is putting aside the allegations we made of a serious violation of international law with the alleged killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil that the Indian government could have been involved in.”
He continued, “The Government of India decided to revoke the diplomatic protections of 40 diplomats working in India…The Indian government is making it unbelievably difficult for life as usual to continue for millions of people in India and in Canada, and they’re doing it by contravening a very basic principle of diplomacy.”
Canada’s decision to withdraw its diplomats came after New Delhi’s request to achieve diplomatic staff parity in both countries. In response, India defended its actions as consistent with Article 11.1 of the Vienna Convention, emphasizing the need for reasonable and normal diplomatic representation based on the conditions in the receiving state.
The United States and the United Kingdom expressed concerns over the departure of Canadian diplomats from India, showing support for Canada’s position. The US State Department spokesperson, Matthew Miller, stated, “We are concerned by the departure of Canadian diplomats from India, in response to the Indian government’s demand of Canada to significantly reduce its diplomatic presence in India.” Similarly, a spokesperson for the UK’s Foreign Office disagreed with the Indian government’s decisions that led to the departure of Canadian diplomats.
