Sullivan said that India is not Russia and is different from China, in response to a question on why the United States is giving a “free pass” on Beijing and Delhi on Russian aggression
Washington is in touch with Delhi on Canada’s allegations over Khalistani separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing, and there can be no “special exemption” for actions like “these” as the US will defend its basic principles, US national security advisor Jake Sullivan said on Thursday.
Addressing a White House press briefing, Sullivan reaffirmed that the US was deeply concerned about Canada’s allegations, supported its investigation and wanted perpetrators to be brought to justice.
Asked whether President Joe Biden intended to speak with Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the issue, and whether it could drive a “wedge” between India and the US, Sullivan said that he wouldn’t get into private diplomatic conversations but “this issue had been discussed at the highest levels”.
“It is a matter of concern for us. It is something we take seriously. It’s something we will keep working on, and we will do that regardless of the country. There is not some special exemption you get for actions like this. Regardless of the country, we will stand up and defend our basic principles. And we will also consult closely with allies like Canada as they pursue their law enforcement and diplomatic process,” Sullivan said.
In a different context, when asked why the US was giving a pass to India despite its position on Russian aggression, the fact that it had made “a deal with 18 countries to not use dollars” for trade, was on a “watchlist for intellectual property theft”, and was a part of Brics, Sullivan said, “Where we have concerns with India, whether it comes to issues related to the very watchlist that you are describing or otherwise, we make those concerns clear. And we defend US interests, as we do with every country in the world.”