Canada, 11 Oct 2023:Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has initiated calls to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and King of Jordan Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, seeking their support amidst escalating diplomatic tensions between Canada and India following the death of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistani leader. According to a press release from KMS, Trudeau alleges potential involvement by Indian secret agencies in Nijjar’s death on Canadian soil and has begun discussing the situation with international leaders. This comes amid a wider diplomatic dispute, seeing a reduction of diplomatic staff between the two countries and significant discussions related to rule of law and diplomatic relations.
Nijjar, whose death has become a flashpoint in the relations between Canada and India, was allegedly targeted by Indian secret agencies, a claim that has not been independently verified. Trudeau, venting his concerns and navigating through the complexity of international diplomacy, shared thoughts and engaged in high-level talks with leaders beyond North American borders. These conversations extended to issues beyond the immediate bilateral tension, encompassing larger discussions about regional stability and international norms. Trudeau posted on X (formerly Twitter), “On the phone today, his highness Mohamed Bin Zayed and I spoke about the current situation in Israel. We expressed our deep concern and discussed the need to protect civilian life. We also spoke about India and the importance of upholding – and respecting – the rule of law.”
Notably, in the backdrop of the unfolding events, Canada has strategically relocated a majority of its diplomats from India to Southeast Asian countries in response to India’s directive to reduce Canadian diplomatic staff. This directive aimed to equalize the number of diplomatic staff between the two countries, which in turn has showcased an evident strain in their relations.
Earlier on Sunday, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was brought up to speed on the developing situation by Trudeau, with particular attention to the circumstances surrounding Canadian diplomats in India. The ongoing diplomatic communications with the leaders of the UAE and Jordan also circled similar themes, highlighting the importance of “respecting the rule of law and the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations”, as per the Canadian government.
The conversations with both Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein underscored a shared apprehension toward the maintenance of lawful processes in international relations and the pivotal role of international norms amidst geopolitical tensions. However, the specific outcomes of Trudeau’s dialogues, or any commitments from the UAE and Jordan leaders, remain undisclosed at this point.