The US embassy on Thursday dismissed reports that American ambassador Eric Garcetti alerted his team about possible impact of New Delhi’s diplomatic spat with Ottawa on India-US relations. American media outlet The Politico reported that Garcetti also said the US may need to reduce its contacts with Indian officials for an undefined period of time.
In response to the report, however, the embassy said Garcetti and the US Mission to India are working hard to strengthen the relationship between the two countries, as is evident from his personal engagements and public schedule.
“The US embassy dismisses these reports. Ambassador Garcetti is working hard every day to deepen the partnership between the people and governments of the United States and India. As his personal engagement and public schedule demonstrates, Ambassador Garcetti and the US Mission to India are working every day to advance the important, strategic, and consequential partnership we have with India,” said an embassy spokesperson.
India and Canada ties came under severe strain when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau alleged the “potential” involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in June. While India strongly rejected the allegations, it also expelled a senior Canadian diplomat in a tit-for-tat move to Ottawa’s expulsion of an Indian official over the case.
The Politico has quoted an unnamed official in its report about Garcetti’s alert to his team. “Garcetti has told his in-country team that, because of the diplomatic spat with Canada, relations between India and the US could get worse for a time,” the official is quoted as saying.
This report came after the White House on October 3 said Canada’s allegations are “serious” and need to be investigated fully.
(With PTI inputs)
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