Trump Administration Clearly Prioritizes US-India Bilateral Relations: S. Jaishankar

Trump Administration Clearly Prioritizes US-India Bilateral Relations: S. Jaishankar

Washington: The new Donald Trump administration in the United States is evidently keen on prioritizing bilateral relations with India, according to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

Jaishankar’s statement followed a series of meetings in Washington with U.S. government officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The minister made this remark after Trump was sworn in for his second term as the President of the United States.

Sharing his overall impressions, Jaishankar stated, “I would like to make one thing clear. The Trump administration’s intent to have India represented at the inauguration ceremony was evident, reflecting their prioritization of bilateral relations.”

The External Affairs Minister emphasized that the new administration appears determined to build on the foundation laid during Trump’s first term in office between 2017 and 2021.

“During that time, President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook several initiatives. We observed these developments with significant optimism,” Jaishankar noted. He also participated in a multilateral meeting with foreign ministers of Quad nations, which includes India, the United States, Japan, and Australia.

Referring to China’s actions in the Indo-Pacific, the Quad nations collectively pledged to oppose unilateral attempts to change the status quo in the region through coercion.

Speaking about the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting, Jaishankar expressed confidence in the administration’s responsiveness to advancing the Quad’s activities and intensifying its engagements.

External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar highlighted the Trump administration’s strong commitment to enhancing India-US relations during his recent meetings in Washington DC. He noted the administration’s eagerness to build on previous initiatives and advance the Quad… pic.twitter.com/MPXXSPFpB7

— DD News (@DDNewslive) January 23, 2025

EAM Jaishankar’s First Meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Rubio: Resolving Immigration Concerns

Jaishankar also held a bilateral meeting with Secretary Rubio, during which they discussed issues, including delays in visa processing for Indian nationals. The minister conveyed to reporters that such delays hinder employment, business, travel, tourism, and people-to-people connections. He added that Secretary Rubio acknowledged these concerns.

Rubio expressed the United States’ interest in collaborating with India to advance economic ties and address concerns related to irregular immigration.

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