PM Modi and Justin Trudeau Engage in Brief Interaction at ASEAN Summit in Laos

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had a brief interaction during the ASEAN Summit in Vientiane, Laos, on October 10, 2024. This comes nearly a year after tensions between India and Canada escalated following Trudeau’s accusation in September 2023, alleging possible involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Canadian Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia.

CBC News reported that Trudeau described their encounter as a “brief exchange.” While not disclosing specific details, he reiterated his focus on ensuring the safety of Canadians and upholding the rule of law, responsibilities he emphasized as priorities for any Canadian government.

The diplomatic strain stems from Trudeau’s allegations regarding Nijjar’s killing, which India, having declared Nijjar a terrorist in 2020, vehemently denied, calling the claims “absurd” and “politically motivated.”