Editor's note: Canada and India find themselves entangled in an increasingly intensifying diplomatic standoff following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's accusation that the Indian government was involved in the assassination of a Canadian national and an alleged Sikh separatist activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar on Canadian soil. India has vehemently denied these allegations, labelling them as "absurd and motivated." In response, India has accused Canada of sheltering individuals linked to the Khalistani Sikh separatist movement, which it considers a terrorist threat. Both countries have expelled senior diplomats, and India has temporarily suspended visa services for Canadian citizens. To delve into this complex diplomatic brawl and its broader geopolitical implications, CGTN's Sr. International Editor Abhishek G. Bhaya spoke with Akshobh Giridharadas, visiting fellow at the Washington, D.C.-based Observer Research Foundation. The views expressed in the video are his own and not necessarily those of CGTN.

Edited excerpts:

CGTN: How is this diplomatic dispute being viewed from the power corridors in Washington D.C., especially in light of Canada's status as a member of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance and India's increasing role as a key strategic partner of the U.S.?

Giridharadas: The United States, like all major powers, perhaps privately has an opinion. Publicly they are not going to do anything to sabotage their relations with India or Canada, partly because there is a long-standing alliance and friendship with Canada. But there is also a very important geostrategic relationship with India that cannot be ignored or even afford to be diluted.

I think fundamentally what's going to happen is that Canada has the right to cajole its Five Eyes members, other G7 and G20 members and try and put out some stern warnings. But the United States, ironically, is probably taking a line similar to India's on the Russia-Ukraine issue.

There is a fundamental issue of national security and a key concern, the national strategy over this overarching narrative of American ideals. The United States has had a back-channel talk with Ottawa and assured them that they will do their best to mediate, but I don't think the United States will publicly come out and reprimand [India]. So, the United States is going to engage in a diplomatic delicate dance because offending a vital partner is not in its interest.

CGTN: While Canada's fellow Five Eyes members – the U.S., UK, Australia and New Zealand – are slowly but gradually coming in support of Ottawa's investigation into the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, we have still not seen a collective outcry against India as typically seen in such cases. What do you make of the responses coming from the Western capitals to the crisis?

Giridharadas: This is par for the course because countries don't want to wade into things that will not help them. Australia has a very strong relationship with New Delhi, which is growing, be it in the Quad, Indo-Pacific, joint military training, and naval exercises. The UK and India are discussing a free trade agreement, and the UK currently has a prime minister of Indian origin as well.

New Zealand, with due respect, does not have strong geopolitical influence, but it does not want to ruffle feathers. So, diplomatic niceties, scripted answers, and anodyne homilies will be the norm. No country is going to sour its relations, which is why Justin Trudeau should have calibrated this more carefully.

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