America害羞草研究所檚 top diplomat is again urging India and Canada to work together on bringing Hardeep Singh Nijjar害羞草研究所檚 killers to justice 害羞草研究所� and hopefully forestall a deepening of a serious geopolitical rift between two important allies.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he delivered that message Thursday during his meeting in Washington, D.C., with Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India害羞草研究所檚 external affairs minister.
Relations between Canada and India have plumbed new depths since Prime Minister Justin Trudeau cited 害羞草研究所渃redible allegations害羞草研究所� of links between the Indian government and the shooting death of Nijjar, a prominent Sikh separatist and Canadian citizen.
READ MORE:
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e very concerned about the allegations that have been raised by Canada, by Prime Minister Trudeau,害羞草研究所� Blinken told a news conference Friday.
害羞草研究所淭hose responsible need to be held accountable, and we hope that our friends in both Canada and India will work together to resolve this matter.害羞草研究所�
Blinken said the U.S. has been in close contact with both countries about the allegations ever since Trudeau made them public earlier this month in the House of Commons.
害羞草研究所淎t the same time, we have engaged with the Indian government and urged them to work with Canada on an investigation, and I had the opportunity to do so again in my meeting yesterday with Foreign Minister Jaishankar.害羞草研究所�
A State Department readout of that meeting made no mention of the controversy, but experts in international diplomacy say that害羞草研究所檚 hardly surprising.
The allegations have put the U.S. in an awkward spot, with the Biden administration courting India as it works to develop a geopolitical bulwark against the mounting influence of China.
Trudeau, who expressly asked Blinken to reiterate Canada害羞草研究所檚 concerns with Jaishankar, paid a visit Friday to a community centre in Brampton, Ont., a Toronto suburb that害羞草研究所檚 home to Canada害羞草研究所檚 largest Sikh population.
He moved through an outdoor picnic area, where he encountered a number of people worried about the tensions and the safety of members of the Indo-Canadian community.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 very, very complicated times right now,害羞草研究所� Trudeau said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a time where we have to pull together, we have to be there for each other.害羞草研究所�
At another table, he acknowledged the challenge of navigating such serious allegations with a country that is widely seen around the world as a vital economic and geopolitical ally with the West.
害羞草研究所淓very Canadian, regardless of where they come from, needs to be safe in this country,害羞草研究所� Trudeau said.
害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 something that even as we look to work and grow our trade ties around the world, including with India, we have to be unequivocal about the rules being the rules.害羞草研究所�
Diplomacy under such circumstances can be a tricky and nuanced endeavour. But the U.S. has already taken steps to ensure Trudeau had at least some support from inside the so-called Five Eyes security alliance.
That came last week from David Cohen, the U.S. envoy to Canada, who confirmed that Canada害羞草研究所檚 allegations were supported in part by intelligence from inside that alliance, which includes the U.S., the U.K., Australia and New Zealand.
害羞草研究所淚 think the Americans feel they have backed up the head of the government, the prime minister, with the comments of the ambassador,害羞草研究所� said Gary Doer, who spent more than six years as Canada害羞草研究所檚 envoy to D.C.
害羞草研究所淚 think if they hadn害羞草研究所檛 been public through their ambassador, you could look for a tilt, but they did get somebody out there to back up the prime minister.害羞草研究所�
A strong economic and diplomatic relationship with India is as important for Canada as it is for the U.S., he added.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not one versus the other. I think we benefit both ways. And so do they.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所� With files from Jordan Omstead in Brampton, Ont.
James McCarten, The Canadian Press
READ MORE:
