LONDON: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called for a “de-escalation” in the Delhi-Ottawa row after a late-night phone call with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau.
Trudeau spoke by phone with Sunak late Friday in a desperate bid to shore up support from allies. Canada and the UK are long-standing allies. The two countries share a sovereign, King Charles III, and continue a long tradition of strategic partnership.
They fought alongside one another in two World Wars and placed high priority on their security relationship, which includes military, law enforcement, and intelligence cooperation, including as part of Nato and Five Eyes. “Canada and the UK stand united in the fight against coercive diplomacy," the Canadian government website states.
The UK readout of the call between the leaders, released in the early hours of Saturday, said Trudeau updated Sunak on “the situation relating to Canadian diplomats in India”, referring to Delhi telling Canada that it must reduce its 62 diplomats in Canada by 41 by October 10, or else India would revoke their diplomatic immunity.
Relations between India and Canada have deteriorated since Trudeau said in the Canadian parliament that there were “credible allegations” of a “potential link” between agents of the Indian government and the assassination of Sikh pro-Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, in British Columbia in June, an accusation which Delhi brands as “absurd”. Nijjar was designated a terrorist by India. At the time the UK government said they were “serious allegations”.
Sunak “reaffirmed the UK’s position that all countries should respect sovereignty and the rule of law, including the principles of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations”, the UK readout of the call said. It added that Sunak “hoped to see a de-escalation in the situation” and he agreed to remain in contact with Trudeau “on the next steps”.
Canada’s CBC News said Friday, quoting sources, that the Canadian government had relocated some lower-level diplomatic staff stationed outside of Delhi to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore over the last several weeks.
The Canadian government readout of the call said Trudeau provided “an update on the current situation between Canada and India”.
“The prime ministers discussed the need to manage global challenges in close partnership and the importance of upholding and respecting the rule of law. The leaders emphasised respect for the Vienna Convention and the need to ensure the safety and security of their citizens. They underscored the importance of de-escalation in this context,” it said.