Introduction: The U.S. Embassy in India has refuted claims made by the U.S. media outlet Politico, which suggested that India-U.S. relations might deteriorate due to the ongoing diplomatic tensions between India and Canada. The embassy asserted that Ambassador Eric Garcetti is actively working to advance the partnership between the United States and India. Politico had reported that Ambassador Garcetti had indicated to his in-country team that relations between India and the U.S. could experience temporary strains because of the diplomatic dispute with Canada.
Ambassador Garcetti’s Ongoing Efforts: In response to the reports, the U.S. Embassy emphasized that Ambassador Garcetti is diligently engaged in deepening the partnership between the people and governments of the United States and India. The embassy further clarified that the ambassador’s personal engagement and public schedule underscore the commitment of the U.S. Mission to India and Ambassador Garcetti to advance the important, strategic, and consequential partnership shared by the two nations.
U.S. Stance on India-Canada Dispute: The U.S. had previously expressed its “deep concern” regarding the allegations made by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau regarding the Indian government’s involvement in the fatal shooting of Khalistan terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The U.S. stated that it is closely coordinating with Canada on this matter. Additionally, the U.S. State Department Deputy Spokesperson, Vedant Patel, called on the Indian government to cooperate with the Canadian investigation to ensure that those responsible for the incident are brought to justice.
Canada’s Approach to Resolution: Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly expressed her country’s desire for private talks with India to resolve the diplomatic dispute stemming from the killing of Najjar. She emphasized the seriousness with which Canada regards the safety of its diplomats and maintained that diplomatic conversations are most effective when conducted in private.
Background on India-Canada Dispute: The strain in India-Canada relations emerged after Justin Trudeau’s allegations that the Indian government had a “potential role” in the fatal shooting of Nijjar, who was a designated terrorist in India. Najjar was killed outside a Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18. India categorically rejected these claims, dismissing them as absurd and motivated. Canada has yet to provide public evidence to support the allegations and has expressed its willingness to work constructively with India to address the issue.
Conclusion: While reports of potential strains in India-U.S. relations amid the India-Canada diplomatic standoff have surfaced, the U.S. Embassy in India has emphasized Ambassador Garcetti’s commitment to strengthening ties between the two nations. The diplomatic dispute between India and Canada, rooted in allegations related to Nijjar’s killing, continues to be a point of international attention and coordination.