S Jaishankar dismisses concerns over Trump’s victory, highlights India’s strong diplomatic ties

Addressing the Aditya Birla 25th Silver Jubilee Scholarship Program in Mumbai, Union Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, on Nov 10, said that although many nations are concerned about Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election, India remains unaffected.

When asked about the implications of the US presidential election on Indo-US relations, the External Affairs Minister responded that PM Modi had established relationships with several US presidents, noting that there is something natural about how he forms such ties.

“When PM Modi first visited Washington D.C., Barack Obama was the President, then it was Donald Trump, and then it was Joe Biden. There is something natural about how he forges those relationships... I know many countries are nervous about the US today, but let’s be honest, we are not one of them,” he added.

"Prime Minister Modi was one of the first three world leaders to congratulate the US President-elect shortly after it was announced that he had defeated his Democratic rival, Kamala Harris, in the high-stakes election," Jaishankar continued.

PM Modi said that he looks forward to renewing their engagement to deepen the India-US partnership.

The Indian prime minister also urged Donald Trump to promote "global peace, stability, and prosperity" amid Middle Eastern tensions and the Russia-Ukraine dispute.

“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. Together, let’s work for the betterment of our people and promote global peace, stability, and prosperity,” PM Narendra Modi posted on X.

Jaishankar also said that India's desire to connect with the world has increased, whether through tourism, education, or job opportunities.

“This deeper linkage between the external world and our national endeavors offers us crucial opportunities to accelerate the path towards a Viksit Bharat. In fact, we take it so seriously that I can declare that foreign policy now has a fundamentally purposeful role in advancing national development, apart from ensuring national security,” Jaishankar said.

He noted that the world is increasingly appreciating India’s story and that the emphasis on economic policy has become the most significant change in India’s foreign policy in recent years, with the goal of achieving national development while also maintaining national security.

“We no longer measure success just by military capabilities or political influence but also take into account technological strengths, economic resilience, human creativity, and societal well-being. No nation can truly develop in a unidimensional manner. And large ones, in particular, like us, must have some basic self-sufficiency,” he said, emphasizing Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Jaishankar highlighted the changing global population dynamics as an opportunity for India, pointing to rising service demand and many societies falling behind.

“A better educated, skilled, and confident generation of Indians will have opportunities that could not have been contemplated earlier. In fact, the interest in Indian talent is probably the most frequent theme in my conversations with foreign governments and corporations,” he said.

“Anticipating this possibility, we have steadily concluded mobility agreements that ensure better access and fair treatment for our professionals. More than 20 nations are currently covered, with others underway,” the minister added.