New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has reaffirmed the strength of India-US relations, expressing confidence that bilateral ties remain stable under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump.
Always great to visit Hansraj College in Delhi to meet our young minds.
Spoke to them about the their crucial role in building of a Viksit Bharat and how youth can excel to be at the forefront of global talent.
A Viksit Delhi is critical for motivating the nation and… pic.twitter.com/WO4yk7GuSf
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 30, 2025
During an interaction with students at Hansraj College in New Delhi as part of the ‘Youth for a Viksit Bharat’ initiative, Jaishankar highlighted the strong personal rapport between PM Modi and Trump. He described Trump as an “American nationalist” who prioritizes his country’s interests but emphasized that there are no major concerns for India in the US’s foreign policy direction.
Jaishankar, who recently attended Trump’s swearing-in ceremony, stated that his visit signaled positive diplomatic engagement. Addressing concerns about Trump’s approach to global affairs, he explained, “He thinks what needs to be done for America and because America for past 80 years has taken responsibility for whole world and he thinks unnecessarily we spent money on many things, we should not have done. We should have instead focused on the American people. Our issue today is, our relations with America are good.”
#WATCH | Delhi | EAM Dr S Jaishankar says, “I would call Donald Trump an American nationalist… I am confident that he will change many things, and we have to conduct foreign policies ‘out of syllabus’… He has very good impressions of his last visit to Bharat… There is a lot… pic.twitter.com/oq93cxDhqS
— ANI (@ANI) January 30, 2025
He acknowledged that Trump’s leadership might bring unpredictable changes, calling it an “out of syllabus” approach. However, he maintained that India is well-equipped to navigate such shifts in foreign policy.
Jaishankar also recalled Trump’s 2020 visit to India, noting that the former US president still speaks highly of the experience. “Even today when he talks about visiting abroad, he refers to his India visit, saying I visited India, I was welcomed there with respect,” he said.
The minister also stressed the role of youth in India’s progress, declaring, “Without youth, there is no Viksit Bharat (Developed India).” He pointed out that earlier development models had failed to match the pace of Asian counterparts like Japan, Korea, and China.
Speaking about his experience working with PM Modi, Jaishankar described the prime minister as a “tough” but “motivational” leader. Citing India’s evacuation of citizens from Ukraine as an example, Jaishankar highlighted how PM Modi’s leadership is not just about issuing directives but inspiring action. “You have to motivate the team so that people don’t feel that they are doing things because someone told them to,” he said.
