Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had his first conversation with the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan this Sunday.
The UAE is one of India’s closest friends in the region. He also wrote on X that he raised the issue of “India and the importance of upholding – and respecting – the rule of law.”
He then held a conversation with Jordan’s King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein. They again discussed India, which appears in the Canadian report:
“Prime Minister Trudeau provided an update on the situation between Canada and India, underscoring the importance of respecting the rule of law and the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations.”
The latter case involved India demanding that Canada expel at least 40 diplomats, with a deadline of Monday. Several Canadian diplomats were reportedly transferred to missions in Singapore and Malaysia.
The Canadian Prime Minister also met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but the issue of India was not discussed in the conversation.
Trudeau also discussed the issue with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Saturday.
On 18 September, the Canadian Prime Minister made a statement in the House of Commons that there were “credible allegations” of a possible link between Indian agents and the assassination of Khalistani figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar on 18 June. After this statement, relations between India and Canada deteriorated significantly.
In response, India issued a statement denying its involvement in the issue and expelled a senior Canadian diplomat. Moreover, amid escalating tensions, India demanded parity in the number of Canadian diplomats in India.
Nijjar was shot dead by unidentified men in a car park in Surrey, British Columbia province. Indian authorities consider Nijjar to be a terrorist, but no charges have been brought against him in Canada and he was not tried in a Canadian court.
