- The diplomatic crisis between India and Canada over the 2023 killing of pro-Khalistan preacher Hardeep Singh Nijjar has expanded, with the United Kingdom expressing “full confidence” in Canada’s judicial process.
- This follows support for Canada from other members of the ‘Five Eyes’ countries—New Zealand, the U.S., and Australia.
- Five Eyes Support: The U.K. is the fourth Five Eyes member to back Canada. The countries value sovereignty, the rule of law, and the right to peaceful protest.
- India has long been uncomfortable with Khalistan referendums in these countries, but Five Eyes nations have not cracked down on such activities.
- Canada expelled six Indian diplomats, citing involvement in Nijjar’s killing. India responded by expelling six Canadian diplomats.
- The U.S. State Department called the allegations serious, urging India to cooperate.
| Five Eyes (FVEY) The ‘Five Eyes’ is a multilateral intelligence-sharing network among five English-speaking countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The network is primarily focused on signals intelligence (SIGINT), surveillance, and classified document exchange. The alliance began during World War II between the U.S. and the U.K. to counter the Soviet threat. Over time, Canada (1948), Australia, and New Zealand (1956) joined the network. Initially focused on communication intelligence, it has expanded to cover global security challenges, including terrorism, particularly regarding China’s actions in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. |
Dig Deeper: Read about Five Eyes Intelligence Oversight and Review Council (FIORC).
