The recent actions taken by the Canadian government under Justin Trudeau’s leadership indicate a shift in their stance towards India, now categorizing it as an enemy country in terms of cyber security. This move has sparked criticism from New Delhi, labeling it as a strategy by Canada to attack and defame India on the international stage.
During a press conference held today, the Ministry of External Affairs expressed concerns over senior Canadian officials openly admitting to a campaign aimed at tarnishing India’s image globally. The foreign ministry denounced these allegations in the cyber security report, citing a lack of substantial evidence to support such claims.
Canada’s Allegations
In the latest cyber security report titled ‘National Cyber Threat Assessment 2025-2026’, Canada has identified India as a “cyber adversary”. The report suggests that India is actively developing its cyber capabilities for national security purposes, including espionage, counter-terrorism, and enhancing its global influence.
Furthermore, the report alleges that Indian state-sponsored cyber threat actors engage in espionage activities targeting Canadian government networks, driven by the bilateral relations between the two countries.
India has been placed on the list of enemy nations alongside China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea in Canada’s cyber security assessment.
Harassment of Indian Diplomatic Staff
The Trudeau-led Canadian government’s aggressive tactics towards India extend beyond cyber security, with reports of surveillance and intimidation of Indian diplomats and mission staff. India has condemned these actions as a violation of diplomatic conventions and norms.
Despite Canada’s claims of following a “rules-based” order, its actions have been deemed as hypocritical and unacceptable by New Delhi. The ongoing surveillance and interception of communications of Indian officials have been met with formal protests from India.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs denounced Canada’s actions as exacerbating an already tense diplomatic environment and urged for a return to established norms and practices.
The strained relations between India and Canada have been exacerbated by Prime Minister Trudeau’s alleged support for extremist elements and separatist movements against India, further complicating the diplomatic rift between the two nations.
