Washington– External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar has emphasized that challenges are a natural part of any complex bilateral relationship, but what matters most is maintaining a positive long-term trajectory.
Reflecting on the evolution of India–U.S. ties, Jaishankar noted that the relationship has steadily progressed over the last 25 years, regardless of changes in leadership.
In an interview with Newsweek following his arrival in Washington for the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, Jaishankar remarked, “For the last 11 years, if you look at the trend lines, they’ve been very positive. From Clinton, Bush, Obama, Trump, Biden, and now back to Trump — five very different Presidents. Yet, at the end of each presidency, if you do a dipstick on India–U.S. relations, you’ll find they are better than they were at the beginning of that term.”
Sharing the interview on X (formerly Twitter), Jaishankar wrote: “Shared perspectives on India’s role and position in a multipolar world — as a civilizational state, a pluralistic democracy, a talent pool, a diplomatic bridge, and a voice of the Global South.”
He attributed the strength of the bilateral relationship to several long-standing structural drivers: “Economics, technology, people-to-people connections, education, security, and energy — these are all powerful forces that continue to propel the relationship forward.”
While acknowledging that diplomatic differences are inevitable, he said, “Of course there are arguments, differences, and episodes. This isn’t new. I can think of at least one friction point during each presidency.”
Jaishankar cited incidents such as the arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York, U.S. arms sales to Pakistan, and Section 301 trade disputes as examples of past tensions. “We dealt with it,” he added, emphasizing that what matters is the ability to address such issues while keeping the overall relationship on an upward path.
“Relationships will never be free of issues and even differences. What matters is the ability to deal with them and keep trends moving in a positive direction,” he reiterated.
On trade, Jaishankar commented, “We are in the middle — hopefully more than the middle — of a very intricate trade negotiation. My hope is that we bring it to a successful conclusion. I can’t guarantee it — there’s another party involved — but there’s no question we’re trying.”
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed that the trade deal is in its final stages of negotiation.
Jaishankar is set to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday during the Quad Foreign Ministers’ summit, which also includes representatives from Japan and Australia.
“I believe it’s possible,” Jaishankar said of concluding the trade deal. “I think we’ll have to watch this space over the next few days.” (Source: IANS)
