Not in line with diplomatic traditions: Ex UN envoy on remarks by US Deputy NSA

Syed Akbaruddin pointed out that US Deputy National Security Adviser Daleep Singh’s remarks were “not in keeping with the diplomatic traditions or means of engagement between two friends”.

India’s former envoy to the United Nations Syed Akbaruddin today tweeted his condemnation of US Deputy National Security Adviser Daleep Singh for his remarks on India's trade deals with Russia amid the war against Ukraine. The former envoy spoke to India Today TV at length, explaining that the US official’s comments were a “display of rather crude public diplomacy of a nature that is not expected from a friendly country like the US”.

“The world is not at peace. In fact, it is going to pieces. And in such situations, it is normal for everybody to try and maximise their position. We have military conflicts and hostilities going on in Ukraine but we also have a weaponisation of sorts being launched - something very unprecedented. A G20 country is being sanctioned in an unprecedented manner. Obviously, these have repercussions in an interdependent world. It is not the first time sanctions have been used as a tool. But let me tell you they have no sanctity in international law,” Syed Akbaruddin told India Today TV.

Remarks made by US Deputy National Security Adviser were not in line with the diplomatic traditions, says @AkbaruddinIndia #Newstrack @ShivAroor pic.twitter.com/tRvDNIqfyA

“These are used by states in the pursuit of their interests and that’s what the US is doing and some European states are doing. This is their call and they are doing it. As far as bystanders like India are concerned, we are bystanders but are affected by it. So it’s normal to have these engagements and it was nice of the US to send an envoy to try and explain to us,” he added.

Syed Akbaruddin pointed out that US Deputy National Security Adviser Daleep Singh’s remarks were “not in keeping with the diplomatic traditions or means of engagement between two friends”.

“We saw a display of rather crude public diplomacy of a nature that is not expected from a friendly country like the US trying to explain to us. Our ties with the US are on the upswing. There is a trajectory of greater engagement and certainly the remarks made by the US Deputy National Security Adviser were not in keeping with the diplomatic traditions or means of engagement between two friends.

“I, therefore, had no choice but to explain to the young man that diplomacy requires a little bit of nuance, it requires a little bit of sophistication and public diplomacy in a country like India needs much more sophistication than what was expressed by him yesterday,” he concluded.