India鈥檚 move to reduce the presence of Canadian diplomats in its country is 鈥渃ontrary to international law鈥� and the rest of the world should be concerned about its consequences, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Friday.
The United States and United Kingdom are urging India to reconsider.
Foreign Affairs Minister M茅lanie Joly said Thursday that Canada had removed most of its diplomatic presence from India after New Delhi threatened to strip diplomatic immunities from them and their families.
Calling it a precedent-setting threat, Joly said Canada chose to relocate 41 of its diplomats to outside India, along with their 42 dependants. There are 21 Canadian diplomats remaining in India.
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On Friday, Trudeau called India鈥檚 decision to 鈥渦nilaterally鈥� revoke diplomatic immunity from most of Canada鈥檚 diplomats 鈥渁 violation of the Vienna Convention governing diplomacy,鈥� repeating the assertion by his foreign minister.
鈥淭his is them choosing to contravene a very fundamental principle of international law and diplomacy,鈥� Trudeau said Friday at a housing announcement in Brampton, Ont.
鈥淚t is something that all countries in the world should be very worried about.鈥�
The U.S. State Department said Friday that it鈥檚 concerned by the move.
鈥淩esolving differences requires diplomats on the ground. We have urged the Indian government not to insist upon a reduction in Canada鈥檚 diplomatic presence,鈥� wrote spokesman Matthew Miller.
鈥淲e expect India to uphold its obligations 鈥� including with respect to privileges and immunities enjoyed by accredited members of Canada鈥檚 diplomatic mission.鈥�
The U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office echoed those concerns.
鈥淲e do not agree with the decisions taken by the Indian government that have resulted in a number of Canadian diplomats departing India,鈥� the department said in a statement.
鈥淲e expect all states to uphold their obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The unilateral removal of the privileges and immunities that provide for the safety and security of diplomats is not consistent with the principles or the effective functioning of the Vienna Convention.鈥�
Relations with New Delhi have hit a deep freeze since Trudeau announced on Sept.18 that Canadian intelligence services were investigating 鈥渁 potential link鈥� between India鈥檚 government and the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh leader in British Columbia.
Miller urged India 鈥渢o co-operate in the ongoing Canadian investigation.鈥�
Earlier Friday, India鈥檚 Ministry of External Affairs said its move to reduce the number of Canadian diplomats in India, who it says outnumber India鈥檚 staffing in Canada, was in line with diplomatic convention.
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India鈥檚 statement cited a passage from an international convention on diplomatic relations that says in the absence of agreement, a host country can require a diplomatic mission be kept within reasonable and normal limits.
鈥淲e reject any attempt to portray the implementation of parity as a violation of international norms,鈥� the statement read.
Trudeau said Friday that India鈥檚 actions toward Canadian diplomats 鈥渉as far-reaching consequences for the diplomatic world.鈥�
鈥淚t also has very real impacts on the millions of people who travel back and forth between India, as students and family members.鈥�
Officials said the move would slow down the processing of immigration applications, and Canada has issued a travel advisory for regions of India where it says it has been forced to reduce consular staffing.
The Canadian Press
