Concern expressed by the US about India’s request to scale down Canada’s diplomatic presence
Concerned over the departure of 41 Canadian diplomats from India, the US has encouraged the Indian government to refrain from pressing for a reduction in Canada’s diplomatic representation.
US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said at a news conference on Friday that “We are concerned by the departure of Canadian diplomats from India in response to the Indian government’s demand that Canada significantly reduce its diplomatic presence in India.”
The US additionally encouraged India’s administration to assist the Canadian inquiry.
Miller said that there must be diplomats there to mediate disputes and added, “We have urged the Indian government not to insist upon a reduction in Canada’s diplomatic presence and to cooperate in the ongoing Canadian investigation.”
The US expected India to respect its commitments under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, Miller said.
“We expect India to uphold its obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, including with respect to the privileges and immunities enjoyed by accredited members of Canada’s diplomatic mission,” he said.
The Ministry of External Affairs demanded earlier this month that there be fewer Canadian ambassadors in India due to their continuing “interference” in “internal matters” in New Delhi.
Arindam Bagchi, a spokeswoman for the MEA, stated the following during the press conference on October 5: “Given the far larger number of diplomats or diplomatic presence here…and their ongoing intervention in our domestic concerns, we have requested parity in our respective diplomatic representation. The methods for doing this are still being discussed.
The Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday that India’s pursuit of parity in the bilateral diplomatic presence in New Delhi and Ottawa did not breach any international rules.
Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said on Thursday that Canada has expelled 41 diplomats and their 42 dependents from India amid the continuing dispute between the two nations, accusing India of breaking the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.
“We reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms,” the MEA said.
Later on Friday, however, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that millions of people in both nations are finding it difficult to live regular lives as a result of the Indian government’s decision to suspend the diplomatic immunity of 41 Canadian diplomats, according to a report from the Canadian television network Global News.
“The Indian government is making it very difficult for millions of individuals to go about their daily lives in India and Canada. At a videotaped news conference in Brampton, Ontario, Trudeau told reporters, “And they’re doing it by breaking a very fundamental tenet of diplomacy.
He said, “It’s something that has me very concerned for the well-being and happiness of millions of Canadians who trace their origins to the Indian subcontinent.”
Notably, relations between India and Canada have soured ever since Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed that the Indian government was responsible for the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in September. India has categorically denied the allegations, labeling them as “absurd” and “motivated.” Notably, Canada has not yet made any public proof of the alleged murder of Nijjar available.
