The rift between Canada and India is “painful” for Australia that has good ties with both, but will not affect bilateral ties, Australian High Commissioner to India Phillip Green said. He said the conversations between Indian and Australian officials over the issue would “stay” between the diplomats. In an interview to The Hindu, Mr. Green, who took over as Australia’s Ambassador in August, confirmed that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who travelled to India twice this year, was looking forward to return to Delhi next year for the Quad summit due to be held around January 26. He did not, however, confirm the date for the summit, saying that is for India to announce.
“Canada is an old friend of Australia’s and India is a dear friend and a country of considerable importance to us,” the Australian High Commissioner said, likening the India-Canada tussle sparked by the killing of Khalistani separatist Nijjar in Surrey in Canada, and the expulsion of diplomats to a dilemma between personal friends. “It’s painful, and it’s difficult. We hope and we trust that some new foothold can be made in the bilateral relationship and they can work through these difficulties as soon as possible,” he added.
Last week, Australia had issued a statement of “deep concern” that had been conveyed at the “senior levels” in India after the government demanded the expulsion of two-thirds of the Canadian High Commission staff in Delhi, and 41 Canadian diplomats left the country under threat of having their diplomatic immunity revoked.
