Trudeau Hints At 'Tonal Shift' In India-Canada Relations Amidst US Indictment On Sikh Separatist Plot

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has signaled a potential shift in India-Canada relations, referring to a change in tone after the recent release of a US indictment alleging a conspiracy to murder a Sikh separatist on American soil.

In an end-of-year interview with Canada's CBC News and reported by Indian Express, Trudeau commented on the evolving dynamics, stating, "I think there is a beginning of an understanding that they can’t bluster their way through this and there is an openness to collaborating in a way that perhaps they were less open before."

He emphasised that there seems to be a realisation that merely issuing attacks against Canada will not resolve the issue.

Trudeau expressed a desire to avoid a confrontation with India, emphasising the importance of focusing on trade deals and advancing the Indo-Pacific strategy.

The strained relations between India and Canada escalated earlier when Trudeau suggested a "potential link" between the Indian government and the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

Trudeau had announced in September that Canadian security agencies were actively investigating allegations of a connection between agents of the Indian government and Nijjar's killing.

India vehemently rejected the claims, describing them as "absurd and baseless," and temporarily suspended visa services to Canada while initiating a probe committee to investigate the allegations.

In a noteworthy turn of events, the United States Department of Justice later unveiled an indictment charging an Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, with murder-for-hire charges in connection with a foiled plot to assassinate a US-based Khalistani leader.