India’s newly appointed high commissioner to Canada commenced his duties on Wednesday at a ceremony held at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, following significant visits by Canadian officials. Vina Nadjibulla from the Asia Pacific Foundation mentioned, “India has shown keen interest in rebuilding this relationship, but it will require time to rebuild mutual trust and address national security concerns.”
Among the six new envoys presenting their credentials to Gov. Gen. Mary Simon at Rideau Hall was India’s new High Commissioner Dinesh Patnaik. Simon emphasized the enduring importance of diplomacy, highlighting the need to build and repair bridges between nations through dialogue.
Tensions between Canada and India escalated when former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau implicated New Delhi in the assassination of a Sikh activist in June 2023. The relationship faced further strain in October 2024 when the RCMP linked a campaign of violence against Canadians to the highest levels of the Indian government, leading to the expulsion of diplomats from both countries.
Efforts to thaw the diplomatic chill began when Prime Minister Mark Carney invited Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the G7 summit, resulting in the agreement to reinstate top diplomats. Deputy Minister David Morrison of Global Affairs Canada recently visited New Delhi for consultations, signaling a potential reactivation of dialogue mechanisms between the two nations.
India hinted at the possibility of restoring Canada’s full diplomatic staff presence in the country, addressing capacity-related issues at missions and consulates. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand is scheduled to visit India in the forthcoming weeks, signifying a positive step in the bilateral relationship.