The United States has termed Canada’s accusations against India over the assassination of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar as “extremely serious” and asked New Delhi to cooperate with an ongoing investigation as the deepening diplomatic standoff between India and Canada continues unabated.
US Terms Canada’s Allegations Against India “Very Serious”
The tension between the two nations has heightened following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations that India was involved in Nijjar’s assassination, allegations which New Delhi promptly rebutted.
Background of the Diplomatic Rift
This is the story of the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, an Sikh separatist leader, killed in British Columbia, Canada in June 2023. Prime Minister Trudeau accused agents of the Indian government of being involved in the assassination of which India has called “absurd” and “politically motivated.”
Nijjar was an aggressive proponent of the Khalistan movement, an initiative pushing for a separate homeland for Sikhs, and put by Indian security agencies on their radar for alleged links to terrorist activities. He was also included in the list of terrorists by the Indian authorities.
These allegations have drawn intense diplomatic backlash from both the countries, where Canada took actions against India in reaction to India’s initial accusations against Canada when Canada expelled six Indian diplomats and consular officials who were related to the case of an investigation into Nijjar’s killing. India reacted to this move by expelling six Canadian diplomats, out of which some of the key officials are Acting High Commissioner Steward Ross Wheeler, Deputy High Commissioner Patrick Hebert, and First Secretary Marie Catherine Joly.
The United States, being one of both India’s and Canada’s significant allies, has recently voiced its stance. The spokesperson, Matthew Miller, of the U.S. Department of State, addressed this issue just recently during the latter’s press briefing, where he undeniably mentioned Washington’s standpoint on the gravity of the allegations.
Miller said, “We have made clear that the Canadian allegations are extremely serious, and we want to see India cooperate with Canada in its investigation.” In this regard, he emphasized the importance of bilateral cooperation while also stating that the US is closely following the situation. He, however, accepted that India has so far opted for a different route, without further elaboration on the nature of that choice.
While calling for cooperation between the two countries, Miller avoided any further comment on specifics of the investigation. “I will leave it to those two countries to speak to the relevant status of the matter,” he said, adding that the US is not directly engaged in the probe but does have concern over the fallout from the allegations.
Effect of Anti-Indictment Controversy on India-Canada Relations
The diplomatic row has been too much of a strain on India-Canada relations, which had been decently cordial, especially in trade, investment, and education. But the two also share a large diaspora connection, with Canada hosting one of the largest Sikh communities outside of India. Although, over time, the tensions have escalated with the Khalistan movement, India has accused Canada of not pulling out all the stops in restricting the activities of separatist elements within its borders.
This recent round of tit-for-tat diplomacy reached a boiling point in terms of relations. Both nations revoked the credentials of diplomates and have begun reviewing their bilateral engagements. The government also warned its citizens living in India or visiting as a precautionary measure, suggesting growing hostility.
Continued Strong U.S.-India Bilateral Ties
However, the US says that its bilateral ties with India have not changed. During the same press conference, Miller told reporters how the U.S.-India partnership was also very important to him: “We work side by side on multiple fronts, including our shared vision for a free and prosperous Indo-Pacific,” he said, citing strategic cooperation as one of the fields where the two countries have teamed up with each other.
Miller also noted that any problems in the U.S.-India partnership are discussed through “frank and candid talks,” meaning there is an open and strong diplomatic bridge between Washington and New Delhi. The United States has been increasing its ties with India over the past few years based on several cooperations: defense, technology, regional security, among others. Both countries play leading roles in the strategy of the Indo-Pacific intended to counterbalance the increase in power of China in the region.
A Fragile Duet
In this game of diplomatic brinkmanship, the United States is between a rock and a hard place. Both India and Canada are significant allies, but Washington is keen on not spoiling the good relationship it has with either country. As much as the United States has voiced its concerns over the Canadian allegations, it has stopped short of taking a position on the matter against New Delhi to avoid upsetting India.
India is an important player against regional threats, improving trade relations and checking balance of power within the Indo-Pacific region. On the other hand, Canada shares its long-standing diplomatic, security, and economic ties with the U.S. as a neighbor and NATO ally. That puts Washington in a rather delicate position between trying to prod Beijing and New Delhi towards cooperation without being seen as taking sides.
Looking Ahead
The allegations and subsequent diplomatic fallout come at a time when both India and Canada have much to gain by mending ties. For India, it is an imperative to maintain strong global partnerships, especially with countries that play such a significant role on the world stage-the United States and Canada included. Cooperation with India remains one of the fastest-growing major economies for Canada’s trade and geopolitical interests.
As the investigation of the murder of Hardeep Singh Nijjar unfolds, that shall be a moment to watch how this diplomatic impasse unfurls in the international gaze. The two countries would have to try to find their middle ground in order to resolve this issue. For now, calls for cooperation will continue while the way forward remains ambiguous.
