The news of veteran policy expert Ashley Tellis has spread like a wildfire and invited strong reactions from people in Washington and in India. Tellis was arrested by law enforcement after having repeated meetings with Chinese officials over the last few years and allegedly withholding secret documents in his house. He could face a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison and a also a hefty fine of $250,000.
‘Shocking for entire foreign policy community’: Washington in disbelief over Ashley Tellis arrest
Ashley Tellis is widely recognised in both New Delhi and Washington DC as one of the main figures behind the US-India civil nuclear agreement. According to report, he was in a key advisory position for the George W Bush’s administration, working closely with Indian officials, including current External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, to help finalise the landmark deal.
Jumping to Ashley’s defense, Bruno Tertrais, a strategist research expert, said that meeting Chinese officials is part of Tellis’ job. “My good friend Ashley Tellis may have been careless with classified documents (though less than the current US president) but meeting with Chinese officials is part of his f*ucking job. Also, to the best of my knowledge he is not a DoS employee,” he said.
Expressing visible shock, a scholar, Mohammed Soliman from Washington-based Middle East Institute, took to X and wrote, “Shocking for me and for the entire DC foreign policy community. Ashley Tellis has been accused of unlawfully removing classified documents from secure government locations and holding multiple meetings with Chinese officials dating back to 2023.
Christopher Clary, who is an associate professor at the University of Albany shared that he had met Tellis in 2002. “I first met Ashley Tellis in 2002 and he has been unfailingly polite and thoughtful in countless interactions since that time, even when we have disagreed on substantive matters. I wish him fairness and compassion as the legal process unfolds,” he said.
‘Explains why he spoke so harshly against us’: India reacts
Tellis does not have many fans or admirers in India because some of Ashley Tellis’ writings have sparked debate over the years.
In his 2023 essay for Foreign Affairs titled America’s Bad Bet on India, he offered a more cautious view of the India-US relationship. Tellis wrote that India’s push for a multipolar world, its insistence on maintaining strategic independence, and its reluctance to closely align with Washington could limit how far the partnership can go.
He also challenged the overly positive outlook on India’s global rise, noting concerns such as slower economic growth and increasing social divisions within the country.
So when the news of his arrest spread, people and political leaders in India were quick to respond.
“This explains why Ashley Tellis, often cited and celebrated by India’s opposition, spoke so frequently and harshly against us. The forces working against India are beginning to unravel in ways few could have imagined,” BJP leader Amit Malviya wrote on X.