- The Canadian Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) confirmed Trudeau’s participation as it is on his November 22 itinerary.
- Trudeau will attend the event, which will be chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
- A virtual event is expected to discuss the Delhi Declaration adopted at the summit and will be the final meeting under India’s chairmanship of the G20 to be held till the end of this month.
The virtual event is expected to discuss the Delhi Declaration adopted at the summit and will be the final meeting under India’s chairmanship of the G20, which runs until the end of this month.
The virtual event follows the Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi on September 9 and 10. This is the first time in two months that any Canadian cabinet minister, let alone the Prime Minister, will participate in an Indian or India-led event.
Virtual G20 summit
The issues between Canada and India were evident in the bilateral meeting between Modi and Trudeau in Delhi. Trudeau, on the time, “highlighted the importance of respecting the rule of regulation, democratic standards, and country-wide sovereignty,” in step with a readout from the Canadian PMO.
It was a precursor to Trudeau’s statement in the House of Commons on September 18 that there were “credible allegations” of a possible link between Indian agents and the killing of Khalistani figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia on June 18.
The allegations soured relations between the two countries, with each immediately expelling a diplomat. India has suspended the issuance of visas to Canadians indefinitely, although issuance of four categories resumed in October.
India sought parity in the diplomatic presence that led to the departure of 41 Canadian diplomats from the country, in what Canada described as a “mass expulsion”.
Meanwhile, the Early Process Trade Agreement (EPTA) between India and Canada appears to be in limbo as Canada says Ottawa’s relationship is focused on securing New Delhi’s cooperation in the investigation into Nijar’s murder.
