India, Canada hit reset, name new envoys

Relations between the two countries plummeted in September 2023 after Justin Trudeau, the then Canadian Prime Minister, alleged “potential” involvement of Indian government agents in the killing of Canada-based Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June 2023 — a charge that India rejected as “absurd” and “motivated”. This tension led to downgrading of diplomatic ties, with both sides expelling the high commissioners and other senior diplomats.

The Trudeau administration had identified India’s then high commissioner, Sanjay Kumar Verma, and other diplomats as “persons of interest” in its investigation into Nijjar’s killing. India had hit back at the “preposterous imputations” and said it was “withdrawing” its top envoy and other diplomats, citing “no faith in the current Canadian government’s commitment to ensure their security”. India has repeatedly expressed concern about Khalistani activists and anti-India activities in Canada.

The thaw took place in Canada’s Kananaskis on June 17 this year, as Modi and Carney held a “positive” meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, where the two sides “agreed to take calibrated and constructive steps to restore stability” in their relationship, starting with the “early return of High Commissioners to each other’s capitals”. The two sides agreed to resume senior-level dialogues on trade, people-to-people contact and connectivity.

“The appointments are an important step towards restoring necessary diplomatic services to citizens and businesses in both countries,” Canada said in a statement on Thursday.

“The appointment of a new high commissioner reflects Canada’s step-by-step approach to deepening diplomatic engagement and advancing bilateral cooperation with India. This appointment is an important development toward restoring services for Canadians while strengthening the bilateral relationship to support Canada’s economy,” Anita Anand, Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, said.

With over three decades of experience in the foreign service, Patnaik has served in key roles across continents, with early postings in Geneva and Dhaka, and ambassadorial roles in Cambodia, Morocco and Spain. He served as deputy high commissioner to the UK between 2016 and 2018. In January 2022, he was posted as ambassador to Spain and Andorra.

In the late 1990s, he was posted in New Delhi as Under Secretary, overseeing relations with Western European countries. Born in Odisha in 1967, Patnaik did his MBA from IIM-Calcutta.