Assassination scandal threatens India’s relations with Five Eyes

Since mid-2023, a series of assassination plots have strained India’s relations with Canada and the US.

In June 2023, a Sikh separatist activist living in Canada was reportedly killed on orders from Indian security services. Subsequently, in November, it came to light that US authorities were investigating an assassination attempt against another Sikh separatist figure on US soil.

While India vehemently denied the accusations from Canada, it later committed to conducting an investigation after the accusations by US authorities.

The US ambassador to Canada, David Cohen, confirmed that the information that led Canada to accuse India of the assassination was facilitated by the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, consisting of the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Originating from intelligence collaboration during World War II, that intelligence-sharing agreement operated in such secrecy that Australian prime ministers remained unaware of its existence until 1971 and it was publicly revealed only in 1999. The Five Eyes later gained wider public awareness after the 2013 Snowden leaks.

In addition to extensive data and intelligence sharing, the Five Eyes share substantial military, technology, and cultural ties. With largely cohesive foreign policies, the Five Eyes have become a significant force in international affairs.

Complex history

India values diplomatic relations with all five countries, but its strategic focus is on the US, Australia, Canada and the UK because of their geopolitical significance. India’s complex history with these countries has resulted in varying levels of cooperation and apprehension.

There has been significant tension between the US and India since the latter’s independence from the UK in