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Sep 28 – India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, emphasized the crucial need for India and the United States to collaborate during a discussion at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York. He asserted that it is advantageous for the United States to have partners who hold a positive view of America and advocate for it.
Jaishankar’s remarks came after he addressed the UN General Assembly session and are in preparation for his upcoming trip to Washington, where he will engage in bilateral discussions with various US counterparts, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, senior members of the US Administration, business leaders, and think-tanks.
Highlighting the significance of technology in shaping global power dynamics, Jaishankar stressed that the India-US relationship should focus heavily on technological cooperation. He pointed out that technology has a profound impact on our daily lives and plays a pivotal role in determining global influence.
Jaishankar noted that India is a vital partner for the United States, particularly concerning investments in specific domains and their expansion on a global scale. He emphasized that the United States requires partners to safeguard its interests, whether in critical minerals, maritime security, or other areas.
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While acknowledging that there are multiple potential partners for both India and the US, Jaishankar stated that if he had to make a choice, the US would be the optimal one. He underlined the compelling need for India and the US to collaborate, primarily focusing on technology, with potential spillovers into defense, security, and political cooperation.
Discussing the global North-South divide, Jaishankar noted that the Global South often harbors distrust toward developed countries. He emphasized the value of the US having partners who genuinely hold a positive view of the United States and are supportive of it, even when not in the public eye.
It’s worth mentioning that the bilateral goods trade between India and the US has been steadily increasing, with the US being India’s largest trading partner. In 2022-23, bilateral goods trade reached USD 128.8 billion, up from USD 119.5 billion in 2021-22.
