New Delhi, India

As the diplomatic ties between India and Canada deteriorate owing to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's dangerous vote bank politics, New Delhi appears to be having second thoughts about buying Ontario-produced Stryker armoured vehicles, according to a report in the Economic Times. 

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"Plummeting diplomatic relations with Canada have raised doubts about Indian Army's plan to buy Ontario-produced Stryker armoured vehicles," the report stated.

The Stryker armoured vehicles deal was agreed upon during the 2+2 meeting held in 2023. It is an eight-wheel-drive combat vehicle developed by General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada for the United States. It is armed with a 30 mm cannon and a 105 mm mobile gun. 

The Stryker was deployed in Afghanistan to counter the Taliban and has been exported to Ukraine as well where it is being used to push the Russians back. 

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As per reports, talks had been ongoing with the US for limited off-the-shelf purchase of Strykers and coproduction of the military equipment. For the past year, the Canadian-US lobby has been actively pushing for the deal to go through which seemingly goes against the current regime's 'Make in India' and 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (self-sufficient India) initiative. 

In June, senior US officials said there were plans to demonstrate the "capabilities of the Stryker to the Indian Army at an early opportunity". However, since then, the Indo-Canadian relations have hit a new low and New Delhi appears to be in no hurry to get back to the table and see the deal through. 

Watch | India Aims At Exporting Armored Vehicles, Asian African Nations to Import Tanks

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Prefer domestic companies: Experts 

Prior to the India-Canada row, experts had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government to focus on the indigenous defence companies that have invested considerable capital to produce similar armoured vehicles, much more suited to Indian needs.

The homegrown Wheeled Armoured Platform (WhAP), jointly developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Tata Advanced Systems Limited, is believed to be the most mature armoured infantry combat vehicle programme in the country.

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Military experts are of the view that New Delhi should go with the Indian company and leverage its position in the conflict with Canada seeing Ottawa has already threatened to impose sanctions. 

Canadian PM Justin Trudeau has damaged the ties after he claimed that the Indian government was behind the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. Despite being pressed by New Delhi, Ottawa has been unable to provide evidence to back up its allegations - leading to bitter diplomatic feud. 

(With inputs from agencies)