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Foreign ministers

Canada, India Agree to Re-Establish Diplomatic Ties

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand has announced that India has agreed to re-readmit a full cohort of Canadian diplomats, two years after New Delhi forced Ottawa to send most of its envoys home. The decision comes during Anand's visit to India, where she met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior government officials. The speed at which the Canadian mission in India returns to full strength will help determine whether the two countries relaunch trade negotiations. A joint statement was also signed outlining areas of cooperation, including trade and artificial intelligence.

Key Takeaways:

  • India has agreed to re-readmit a full cohort of Canadian diplomats, two years after expelling most of them.
  • Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior government officials during her visit to India.
  • The speed at which the Canadian mission in India returns to full strength will determine whether the two countries relaunch trade negotiations.
  • A joint statement was signed outlining areas of cooperation, including trade and artificial intelligence.
  • Canada and India expelled each other's senior diplomats last fall after the RCMP accused New Delhi of playing a role in a network of violence in Canada linked to homicides and acts of extortion.
  • Anand said the reset of diplomatic relations with India will happen only gradually, starting with the re-establishment of Canada's full cohort of diplomats.
  • Canada removed most of its diplomatic presence from India in October 2023 after New Delhi threatened to strip diplomatic immunity from 41 diplomats and their 42 dependants.
  • Global Affairs Canada did not immediately respond when asked how many Canadian diplomats are now accredited to India.
  • Anand said she raised the matter of restoring Canada's diplomatic cohort with her Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
  • Both countries have agreed to closed-doors talks on security and Canadian officials have said those talks are helping address concerns about transnational repression.

Statistics:

  • 41 Canadian diplomats and their 42 dependants had their diplomatic immunity threatened by New Delhi in October 2023.
  • Canada's diplomatic cohort in India has been gradually restored since October 2023.
  • Both countries named new high commissioners in August 2023.
  • The Indian Trade Minister Piyush Goyal had a "productive discussion" with Canada's Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu last Saturday.

Sources:

  • The Canadian Press
  • Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand's statement on Tuesday
  • Anita Anand's video conference with reporters
  • Global Affairs Canada
  • India's Ministry of External Affairs
  • The World Sikh Organization of Canada

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