Biden is in a dilemma, Canada and India are embroiled in a diplomatic dispute
Bloomberg News reported on September 20th that Canada has shocked India by accusing it of plotting to murder an Indian separatist leader, putting US President Biden in a rift between one of America's closest allies and an increasingly important partner in Asia. The excerpt of the report is as follows:
The White House has responded cautiously to the diplomatic dispute between Canada and India, expressing "deep concern" and calling on India to cooperate with Canada's investigation. A US official admitted that these accusations have caused problems for Biden, who left shortly after his visit to India, and the relationship between the two countries seems to be on track.
On June 27, 2022, US President Biden, Indian Prime Minister Modi, and Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau attended events related to the G7 summit in Germany.
Now, this incident may overturn the United States' efforts to woo India to balance China, as demonstrated earlier this month at the G20 summit in New Delhi. The United States and its allies praised Modi for successfully facilitating compromise for issuing the joint declaration, and accepted the mild language on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, so as to make a broader alliance with India in the struggle for influence with China.
Derek Grossman, senior defense analyst at Rand Corporation in the United States, said, "The Biden administration is in a win-win situation in this latest explosive incident. If it stands on the side of Ottawa, then New Delhi will strongly resist and once again question Washington's loyalty. If it stands on New Delhi's side, then the United States will have a conflict with a NATO ally."
The United States often finds itself in a dilemma between intervening in human rights issues around the world and cooperating with countries to protect its geopolitical interests.
If not resolved, this dispute between Canada and India will threaten trade negotiations and military connections between the two countries, which may give Biden a headache when seeking to strengthen unity with partner countries.
According to Indian officials familiar with the situation, the Modi government expects the country's relationship with Canada to deteriorate. "This is a long-standing challenge for the United States and some allies when facing India. They are concerned about a democratic regression in India, but at the same time, they want to ensure that relations with this country they consider strategically important are not jeopardized," said Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asian Institute at the Wilson Center in the United States
India has always been sensitive to public criticism from the United States and its allies. Vivek Mishra, Senior Researcher at the Indian Observer Research Foundation, said that as India Canada relations deteriorate, the United States will face difficult balancing actions.
"I expect there will definitely be secret discussions between the United States and India on the next steps," he said. "Canada is a NATO ally, India is a strategic partner, and the United States will have to take a tightrope."
