How will India deal with Trump 2.0? Jaishankar says this
What's the story
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has emphasized the need for India to adopt "out of syllabus" foreign policies to deal with United States President Donald Trump.
Speaking at an interactive session at Delhi University's Hansraj College, he described Trump as an "American nationalist" and acknowledged his ability to drastically alter global affairs.
"Yes, he (Trump) will change a lot of things, maybe some things will be out of syllabus," said Jaishankar.
Diplomatic relations
Jaishankar highlights strong Indo-US ties under Modi
Jaishankar, who attended Trump's recent inauguration ceremony, also emphasized the strong personal bond between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump, saying, "Our relationship with the US is strong and Modi has a good personal relationship with Trump."
"There may be some issues where we differ, but there will be many areas where things will be in our shed," he assured.
International recognition
Jaishankar observes India's growing global influence
The minister also spoke about India's growing global clout, noting that some non-Indians now claim to be Indian for benefits.
"Even non-Indians now say they are Indians, they think it will help them get a seat on a plane somewhere," he said.
Speaking about his shift from academia and diplomacy to politics, Jaishankar attributed PM Modi's persuasive nature to his foray into politics.
He said, "My entry into politics happened by accident, or call it fortune, or call it Modi."
Policy direction
India's foreign policy to focus on national priorities
Lastly, Jaishankar reiterated that India's foreign policy would stay centered on national priorities, even if there are differences with Trump's administration.
He ended by stressing on India's responsibility as a caretaker for Indians abroad, saying, "Jo bhi desh ke baahar jate hain, woh hamaare paas hee aate hain. Baahar hum hee rakhwale hain (Those who leave the country turn to us only. We are their caretakers outside)."