Canada and India Are Getting Along Again. The Peace Won't Last | The Walrus

"N estled in the pine-clad peaks of Kananaskis, Alberta, the G7 convened in June with a heavy agenda. Officially, the summit focused on urgent questions of peace, energy, security, and new partnerships; unofficially, all eyes were on a carefully managed encounter between the leaders of two countries whose relations had nearly collapsed months prior. I am referring to the meeting between Canadian prime minister Mark Carney and-not Donald Trump-Narendra Modi."

"It came months after relations between the countries went into deep freeze, with then prime minister Justin Trudeau alleging in Parliament in 2023 that the Indian government was behind the murder on Canadian soil. New Delhi accepted the invite readily. Ottawa reciprocated by going out of its way to avoid any disruption of the constructive mood for the meeting."

"The report details systematic efforts by India, including its "Canada-based proxy agents," to influence "Canadian communities and politicians." These activities, it adds, "attempt to steer Canada's positions into alignment with India's interests on key issues." The report also accuses India of conducting transnational repression against perceived dissidents. But all this remained buried when Carney met Modi. Both sides pretended to ignore the elephant in the room-and it seemed to work."

The G7 summit in Kananaskis became the setting for a carefully managed Canada–India encounter as bilateral relations sought thaw. Canadian prime minister Mark Carney invited Indian prime minister Narendra Modi despite an ongoing investigation into Hardeep Singh Nijjar's killing and earlier accusations implicating New Delhi. Ottawa delayed public release of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service annual report until after the summit. The CSIS report alleges systematic Indian efforts, including "Canada-based proxy agents," to influence Canadian communities and politicians and accuses India of transnational repression. The leaders agreed to restore high commissioners and resume trade talks while avoiding public confrontation over the Nijjar matter.

Read at The Walrus