By Martin Shwenk Leade
AgenciesEAM S Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said India is 鈥渋n the middle, hopefully more than the middle鈥 of a 鈥渧ery intricate trade negotiation鈥 with the United States, adding that he remains optimistic about a successful outcome despite the complexity involved.In an interview with Newsweek during his ongoing visit to the US, Jaishankar described the trajectory of India-US ties as steadily positive over the last 25 years. Referring to the continuity of bilateral progress under five different US Presidents, he said, 鈥淛ust think back over the last five presidents of America鈥擟linton, George W Bush, Obama, Trump, Biden鈥攆ive very different presidents and yet at the end of every presidency, if you were to do a dipstick on India-US relations you’ll find it’s better off than it was at the beginning of that presidency.鈥滺e added that 鈥渟tructural factors鈥 such as economics, technology, education, energy, and security had acted as 鈥渄rivers of the relationship,鈥 allowing it to deepen over time.Also read: India may finalise interim trade deal with US as early as this week: ReportLive Events鈥楾here will have to be give and take鈥橲peaking on the current trade talks with US, Jaishankar said that while he could not guarantee the outcome, he believed a conclusion was within reach.鈥淥bviously, my hope would be that we bring it to a successful conclusion. I cannot guarantee it because there’s another party to that discussion. But no question we do think today that trade鈥攜ou know, there will have to be give and take,鈥 he said.鈥淛ust as people in the US may have views about India, people in India too have views about the US and we will have to find a kind of a middle ground there. I believe it’s possible and I think we’ll have to watch the space for the next few days,鈥 he added.The bilateral trade agreement (BTA), being finalised between New Delhi and Washington, is expected to see its first tranche completed by fall 2025.Jaishankar reflects on past differences, urges focus on long-term gainsDrawing on his experience as India鈥檚 ambassador to the US, Jaishankar acknowledged that bilateral relationships inevitably face challenges.鈥淩elationships will never be free of issues, even I would say differences. I think what matters is the ability to deal with it and to keep that trend going in the positive direction,鈥 he said.Recalling earlier tensions鈥攊ncluding a row over a diplomat, intellectual property issues, and plans by the US to sell F-16s to Pakistan鈥擩aishankar said such disputes had been managed and overcome.Also read: Pakistan鈥檚 nuclear threat, Modi鈥檚 reply: Jaishankar reveals how PM responded to US warning to IndiaJaishankar is currently in the US at the invitation of Secretary of State Marco Rubio to attend the Quad Foreign Ministers鈥 Meeting on July 1. The meeting is expected to review progress on existing Quad initiatives and explore new proposals aimed at strengthening the shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific.Prior to this, the EAM visited New York where he inaugurated a United Nations exhibition on 鈥楾he Human Cost of Terrorism鈥, reiterating India鈥檚 long-standing call to expose state sponsorship of terrorism.(With inputs from agencies)(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
Read More News onIndia US trade negotiationsS Jaishankar interviewBilateral trade agreementQuad Foreign Ministers鈥 MeetingIndia US relations historyIndia terrorism state sponsorshipUS India economic partnershipTrade talks complexitiesUnited States
(Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2025 Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online….moreless
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)Read More News onIndia US trade negotiationsS Jaishankar interviewBilateral trade agreementQuad Foreign Ministers鈥 MeetingIndia US relations historyIndia terrorism state sponsorshipUS India economic partnershipTrade talks complexitiesUnited States(Catch all the Business News, Breaking News, Budget 2025 Events and Latest News Updates on The Economic Times.) Subscribe to The Economic Times Prime and read the ET ePaper online….moreless
Prime ExclusivesInvestment IdeasStock Report PlusePaperWealth Edition123View all Stories