In a diplomatic tussle between Canada and India arising from the tragic killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, the Biden administration is anticipated to pursue a cautious stance. Charles Myers, the founder of the political strategy firm Signum Global Advisors, suggests that the U.S. government is likely to exercise restraint, aiming to preserve the progress it has made in its relationship with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Myers, a former vice chairman at Evercore and a prominent Democratic Party donor who has raised funds for President Joe Biden, asserted during a BNN Bloomberg Television interview, “We’re doing everything we can to engage with India to try to help outcompete China, and I don’t think the United States is going to get too involved in this dispute.”
The strained relations between Canada and India stem from the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot on June 18 in Surrey, near Vancouver. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has publicly stated that there is “credible” evidence linking the Indian government to Nijjar’s murder. Nijjar was an advocate for an independent Sikh nation in northwestern India. Trudeau emphasized, “Any involvement of a foreign government in the killing of a Canadian citizen on Canadian soil is an unacceptable violation of our sovereignty.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged India to collaborate with Canada in the investigation, emphasizing the importance of accountability. However, despite calls for action, the U.S. and its allies have refrained from specific retaliatory measures, such as expelling Indian diplomats.
The Indian government, while denying involvement in the killing, has labeled Nijjar a terrorist and criticized Trudeau’s administration for not taking stronger measures against “anti-India activities” within the Indian diaspora in Canada.
In response to the escalating tensions, Canada expelled a senior Indian diplomat, prompting India to retaliate in a tit-for-tat manner. India has suspended visa applications for Canadians, a measure that could significantly impact business and leisure travel from Canada if maintained.
Myers concluded, “For Prime Minister Trudeau to even make these allegations public, he has to have very good intel and evidence, given how serious the allegation is. If true, it is an example of state-sponsored terrorism on Canadian soil.” Nevertheless, he anticipates that the U.S. will endeavor to remain uninvolved in the dispute, prioritizing its strategic relationship with India.
By Bloomberg
