Former Pentagon official: “If US Has To Choose Between India Or Canada, It Will Pick”

Former Pentagon official Michael Rubin said that if the United States had to pick between Ottawa and New Delhi, it would undoubtedly select the latter because the relationship is “too important,” adding that Justin Trudeau’s accusations have put Canada in “greater danger” than India. India, he said, is considerably more significant strategically than Canada, and for Ottawa to engage in conflict with India would be like “an ant engaging in conflict with an elephant.”

Rubin stated that Justin Trudeau is not likely to remain as prime minister given his low support ratings and that the US may improve ties with Canada when he leaves office.

I have a suspicion that the US doesn’t want to be forced to pick between two pals. However, if forced to pick between two allies on this issue, we are more and more likely to select India simply because Nijjar was a terrorist and India is too significant. The importance of our partnership cannot be overstated, Michael Rubin told ANI.

He said, “Justin Trudeau probably won’t hold onto the Canadian premiership for very long, and once he’s gone, we can repair the connection. Former Pentagon employee Michael Rubin is now a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute with a focus on Iran, Turkey, and South Asia.

When asked whether the US may officially weigh in on the situation, Rubin said, “Frankly, there’s a far larger risk for Canada than there is for India. Since India is the biggest democracy in the world, if Canada wanted to start a battle now, it would be like to an ant going up against an elephant. It is perhaps considerably more important strategically than Canada, particularly as worries about China and other issues in the Indian Ocean basin and the Pacific develop.

After Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau claimed that India was responsible for the death of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, relations between India and Canada became much worse. Following this, a top diplomat was expelled by both nations in retaliation. However, India has categorically refuted these claims, calling them “absurd and motivated”.

Notably, the Canadian PM has not offered any supporting proof for his assertions. Despite being questioned about the specifics of the accusations several times, Trudeau kept to repeating that there were “credible reasons” to think that India was involved in Nijjar’s death.

The former Pentagon officer further attacked Trudeau, claiming that Hardeep Singh Nijjar, “A khalistani terrorist allegedly killed by his erstwhile comrades,” is not a model to utilize for “human rights,” adding that he was a terrorist who had participated in several assaults.

“Justin Trudeau could seek to use human rights as an argument. The reality is that Nijjar is not a role model for promoting human rights. Just one year ago, Nijjar could have participated in the murder of a rival Sikh leader. He has blood on his hands from many strikes at the same time. He used a fake passport to enter Canada. The truth is that this is not Mother Teresa; we’re talking about someone else.

Many members of the US security establishment, as well as those from Canadian security, concur, according to Rubin, that Trudeau has gone “too far.” The former Pentagon officer said that Trudeau was extremely “short-sighted” and was simply behaving as a “politician” in response to the question of whether Trudeau turned a domestic political impediment into a foreign policy problem.

“Yes, I really believe that to be the case. Since a large number of Sikh activists are located in key swing districts, Justin Trudeau was playing domestic Canadian politics as he battles in his reelection campaign. But once again, this isn’t a Canadian-only phenomenon. I believe Justin Trudeau was behaving in his official capacity. He was very oblivious, and no one should sacrifice their long-term connection with the biggest democracy in the world for their short-term political convenience, he said.