Jaishankar Explains Why India Is Unfazed by Trump’s Election Victory
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar assured that India remains unperturbed by Donald Trump’s recent victory in the US presidential election, unlike other nations that may feel uncertain.
Speaking at the Aditya Birla 25th Silver Jubilee Scholarship event in Mumbai, Jaishankar highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s track record of establishing strong ties with successive US Presidents.
Jaishankar remarked, “When he (PM Modi) first visited Washington D.C., Barack Obama was the President, then it was Donald Trump and then Joe Biden. There is something natural in how he forges those relationships.” He acknowledged that while some nations are nervous about the shift in US leadership, “we are not one of them.”
Modi’s Congratulatory Message to Trump
Jaishankar noted that PM Modi was one of the first three global leaders to congratulate Trump on his win, emphasizing India’s readiness to continue strengthening its partnership with the US. Modi’s message to Trump on social media read, “Heartiest congratulations my friend @realDonaldTrump on your historic election victory. As you build on the successes of your previous term, I look forward to renewing our collaboration to further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership.” Modi also urged Trump to support “global peace, stability, and prosperity,” amid current global conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.
Strengthening India’s Global Linkages
Addressing India’s evolving role on the global stage, Jaishankar discussed India’s increasing global engagement through tourism, education, and work opportunities abroad. “This deeper linkage between the external world and our national endeavours offers us crucial opportunities to accelerate the path towards a Viksit Bharat,” he stated, underscoring that India’s foreign policy is now as much about promoting national development as it is about safeguarding national security.
