I do not subscribe to Anglosphere solidarity.
The idea that since the US government has supported Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau's allegations against India in murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the allegations must be credible is not logical.
Among the allegations that Trudeau has raised against India, there is one that can be readily checked.
In stripping 41 diplomats of their diplomatic immunity, Trudeau claims that India is in violation of international law and in violation of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. [1]
"Trudeau made the remarks in Brampton Ont. a day after his government confirmed that 41 Canadian diplomats had left India after New Delhi threatened to revoke their diplomatic immunity."
"This is a violation of the Vienna Convention governing diplomacy," Trudeau said. "This is them choosing to contravene a very fundamental principle of international law and diplomacy. It is something that all countries in the world should be very worried about.
The US government supports Canada on this [2]:
"Resolving differences requires diplomats on the ground. We have urged the Indian government not to insist upon a reduction in Canada’s diplomatic presence and to cooperate in the ongoing Canadian investigation," the U.S. State Department said, adding that it expects "India to uphold its obligations under the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations."
Fact of the matter is that the Canadian mission in India is much larger than the Indian mission in Canada. Around September 20th, India asked Canada to reduce its mission to parity and gave Canada up to October 10th to do so. [3]
This is perfectly fine per the Vienna Convention [4], Article 11, specifically Article 11.1.
Article 11
1.In the absence of specific agreement as to the size of the mission, the receiving State may require that the size of a mission be kept within limits considered by it to be reasonable and normal, having regard to circumstances and conditions in the receiving State and to the needs of the particular mission.
2.The receiving State may equally, within similar bounds and on a non-discriminatory basis, refuse to accept officials of a particular category.
Canada did not comply by October 20th and so India withdrew their diplomatic immunity. That is perfectly fine per Article 9 of the Vienna Convention.
Article 9
1. The receiving State may at any time and without having to explain its decision, notify the sending State that the head of the mission or any member of the diplomatic staff of the mission is persona non grata or that any other member of the staff of the mission is not acceptable. In any such case, the sending State shall, as appropriate, either recall the person concerned or terminate his functions with the mission. A person may be declared non grata or not acceptable before arriving in the territory of the receiving State.
2. If the sending State refuses or fails within a reasonable period to carry out its obligations under paragraph 1 of this article, the receiving State may refuse to recognize the person concerned as a member of the mission.
The above thus establishes:
1. The Canadian Prime Minister made a patently absurd allegation against India.
2. The US, UK and the Anglosphere nevertheless supported the Canadian Prime Minister on this patently absurd allegation.
The only plausible reason for the US Department of State to do such a thing is Anglosphere solidarity. But if they would do so an easily demonstrated absurdity, then it places in doubt the "credible allegations of a potential link" of Indian agents to the murder of Nijjar, for which no information has been provided at all. It could simply be Anglosphere solidarity.
The Indian Minister of External Affairs, Dr S. Jaishankar has said, while in the US and elsewhere , that such foreign operations are not India's policy. [6]
The Canadian Prime Minister's unsupported allegations are credible only to those who share an Anglosphere solidarity. I am not among those, and in addition, I have shown you how threadbare is the Anglosphere's charge of "violation of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations" by India.
[1] India making life 'unbelievably difficult' for millions by ordering diplomats out, says Trudeau, CBC News, Peter Zimonjic, Posted: Oct 20, 2023 12:56 PM EDT
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-india-making-life-difficult-1.7002961
[2] US and UK back Canada in dispute with India over diplomats, Reuters, By Kanishka Singh and Costas Pitas, October 20, 20239:13 PM EDT https://www.reuters.com/world/us-backs-canada-dispute-with-india-over-diplomats-2023-10-20/
[3] Diplomatic row escalates, India asks Canada to downsize missions, pauses issuing visas, The Deccan Herald, Anirban Bhaumik DHNS, Last Updated 21 September 2023, 11:18 IST
https://www.deccanherald.com/world/canada-asked-to-downsize-diplomatic-presence-in-india-2695819
[4] Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961, United Nations, https://legal.un.org/ilc/texts/instruments/english/conventions/9_1_1961.pdf
[5] India withdraws immunity from 41 Canadian diplomats, EFE, 20 October 2023,
https://efe.com/en/other-news/2023-10-20/india-withdraws-immunity-from-41-canadian-diplomats/
[6] ‘Foreign ops not part of govt policy’: Jaishankar in US, Hindustan Times, By
Prashant Jha Sep 28, 2023 04:26 AM IST
