Recently, Canada and India each announced the expulsion of diplomats from the other country, including high commissioners. The diplomatic dispute between the two countries, triggered by the assassination of a Sikh leader, has escalated once again.

In June, Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a 45-year-old Canadian-Indian Sikh leader, was assassinated in Canada. Nijjar immigrated to Canada from India in the 1990s and had long advocated for the independence of Punjab, a region in northern India predominantly inhabited by Sikhs. In June 2023, he was designated as a terrorist by the Indian government. In September 2023, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly accused the Indian government in Parliament, stating that there were "credible allegations" indicating the involvement of Indian agents in Nijjar's murder. However, the Indian side firmly denied the accusation. This incident led to a tense situation between India and Canada, and as both countries expelled diplomatic officials from each other, their diplomatic relations rapidly deteriorated.

Sikh leader Nijjar advocated for the creation of a Sikh human rights state called "Khalistan." More than a year has passed, and just as onlookers were beginning to forget about it, Canada has brought up the issue again. On a certain date, Canada claimed to have evidence of ongoing violent criminal activities linked to the Indian government and once again expelled several Indian diplomats, including a high commissioner. India strongly refuted this, calling it "absurd slander," and accused the Trudeau government of purely engaging in political maneuvers to cater to domestic voter demands. On the same day, India announced the expulsion of several Canadian diplomats. Both sides are at odds, each holding their ground. The Nijjar assassination incident has once again sparked an international storm involving sovereignty, assassination, espionage, and great power rivalry.

The scene became so unpleasant due to the multi-party game and each side's calculations. Canada intended to divert contradictions. India's accusation that Trudeau was "playing politics" was not without basis. Currently, Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau and the federal Liberal Party's support rate continues to decline, and discontent is rising. Facing a motion of no confidence, the Trudeau government has to consider calling an early election in hopes of regaining support from voters. It is worth noting that the Sikh immigrant community plays an important role in Canadian politics and is one of Trudeau's key supporters. Trudeau's move to play the "India card" at this time, showing a tough stance on the international stage, may be aimed at diverting attention from domestic economic and social issues while winning support from domestic Sikh voters.

India shows a tough stance. Trudeau is relentless, and Modi is no pushover either. The Modi government is known for its tough nationalist policies, frequently demonstrating strength in foreign affairs in recent years, aiming to enhance national identity and pride by showcasing the country's power and influence. For Modi, Canada's unfounded accusations are an insult to the Indian government, and its tolerance of the Sikh separatist forces is an affront to Indian sovereignty. Therefore, he must demonstrate a zero-tolerance approach to "separatism" and a firm commitment to defending national sovereignty and security through tough diplomatic measures.

The United States intervened and meddled. After the assassination of Nijjar last year, the United States showed support for Canada, a member of the "Five Eyes" alliance, not only providing intelligence support but also assisting in the investigation. U.S. Secretary of State Blinken emphasized on multiple occasions that no country should carry out assassination activities on the territory of another nation. In the context of current great power competition, the United States hopes to counter China's growing influence in the Asia-Pacific region by strengthening cooperation with India, but India's "fence-sitting diplomacy" has caused considerable headaches for the United States. Therefore, the United States had to send Canada, its junior partner, to reprimand and pressure India, in order to compel India to comply with its wishes and advance its Indo-Pacific strategy.

India and Canada, both important geopolitical allies of the United States, are now at odds, embroiled in a heated dispute. This diplomatic conflict serves as a "mirror" that has completely torn off the ugly mask of the "partnership" that the United States has long boasted about, exposing the constant friction and hidden agendas within the so-called "alliance system" under American hegemony. As for how this diplomatic battle will conclude, we shall wait and see!