THIS is with reference to the report ‘Trudeau to step down once successor chosen’ (Jan 7). Justin Pierre James Trudeau, the Canadian prime minister, has finally succumbed to the ever-increasing pressure on many counts, including a faltering economy, and sour relations with the United States and India.

Relations between Canada and India significantly deteriorated during Trudeau’s nine-year tenure, which was marked by mutual mistrust and diplomatic tensions. Trudeau’s 2018 visit to India, intended to strengthen ties, was widely criticised for being poorly managed, with controversies surrounding the invitation of a convicted terrorist to official events.

More recently, tensions escalated due to Trudeau’s public support for the Indian farmers’ protests, which angered the Indian government, becasue it viewed it as interference in domestic affairs. The situation reached a new low with allega-

tions surrounding the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistani activist, in Canada. Trudeau accused India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) of involvement in the assassination, citing credible evidence.

These accusations and counteraccus-ations had plunged diplomatic relations into a deeper crisis, further hindering progress in trade, investment and strategic partnerships between the two countries.

Trudeau’s relationship with Donald Trump was marked by a mix of cooperation and tension, shaped by their differing ideologies and priorities. Trump called Trudeau ‘dishonest’ after the 2018 G7 summit, while Trudeau was caught mocking Trump at a Nato event in 2019. Trudeau’s approach reflected a pragmatic effort to navigate a turbulent US-Canada relationship during Trump’s presidency.

Relations between Pakistan and Canada remained relatively low-profile. The two countries occasionally engaged on mul-tilateral platforms, but no major break-throughs or agreements marked their relationship. Relations were cordial but lacked significant strategic or economic deepening, reflecting a status quo dynamic during Trudeau’s period.

Trudeau’s resignation marks a significant shift in Canada’s political landscape. Given the internal pressures and declining public support that led to his departure, a swift return to power appears unlikely.

Eventually, his future political trajec-tory will depend on his ability to rebuild public trust, address past controversies, and adapt to the continuously evolving priorities of majority Canadian voters.

Qamar Bashir
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, January 11th, 2025