US ambassador Garcetti warns of Canada-India spat spillover: Report
US ambassador in India Eric Garcetti
By Manish Anand
New Delhi, October 5: Amid Indian diplomatic offensive against Canada in the aftermath of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau making a sensation claim that “there are credible allegations against Government of India in the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar”, US ambassador in India Eric Garcetti is reported to have shared with his team that there could be spillover effects on the relations with India.
“U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti has told his in-country team that, because of the diplomatic spat with Canada, relations between India and the U.S. could get worse for a time. Garcetti also has said the U.S. may need to reduce its contacts with Indian officials for an undefined period of time,” Politico reported, quoting an unnamed official. The Politico also reported that the US department refused to react to the assessment of the ambassador in India.
Garcetti’s assessment has come close on the heels of the report that India has asked Canada to reduce its diplomatic strength in New Delhi by calling back 41 diplomats by October 10, else their diplomatic immunity would be withdrawn. Garcetti was appointed ambassador in India after a long gap of vacancy. He has been on an all-India tour, tasting the Indian cuisine as well as acquainting the culture of the country, while actively reaching out to the official and political cross-sections in India.
Garcetti’s reported assessment also has come close on the heels of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s meeting with his US counterpart Antony Blinken and the US national security advisor Jack Sullivan. Jaishankar during a discussion at the Hudson Institute had admitted that Blinken had raised the issue of the Canadian allegations in the killing of Nijjar, who India had designated as a terrorist, while seeking his repatriation from Ottawa.
US ambassador in Canada David L. Chohen had backed the accusation of the Canadian prime minister by telling a state-owned television in Ottawa that Washington had shared intelligence in the Nijjar case. The US and Canada are Five Eyes partner for sharing of intelligence. Jaishankar had stated during his discussion at the Hudson Institute that while the US shared its perspective on the issue, he apprised his American interlocutors of the Indian concerns, which were largely about Canada sheltering secessionists and extremists on its soil.
It may be noted that India has also invited US President Joe Biden to be the chief guest at the Republic Day Parade on January 26 next year.
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