Jaishankar Says U.S. Acts in Self-Interest, and India Would Do the Same

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar recently spoke to a French news outlet where he shared his views on the United States and its foreign policy, especially during Donald Trump’s time as President. Jaishankar said that the U.S. is acting based on what suits its immediate interests, and he added that if he were in their place, he would do the same. He explained that countries are expected to act in ways that benefit themselves first, and that’s a practical way to approach international relations.

He also talked about how India had noticed early on that Trump showed strong interest in the Quad partnership — a group made up of the United States, India, Japan, and Australia. Trump had supported the idea of growing that partnership, and India took note of his commitment in this area. When asked about the tariffs that Trump had threatened to place on Indian goods — as high as 26% — Jaishankar said that India is already in discussions with the U.S. to reach a trade agreement. He mentioned that over the past 25 years, India’s relationship with the U.S. has grown stronger, no matter who the U.S. President was. The cooperation has expanded in areas such as technology, education, science, defense, and strategy.

Jaishankar pointed out that earlier in the year, Trump had announced trade tariffs on more than 150 countries, including India. But after many countries reached out, the U.S. government paused the tariffs for 90 days to give time for trade talks. India is using this time to try to come to an agreement with the U.S. before the deadline of July 9.

In the same interview, Jaishankar was asked whether India should be given a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. He said yes, explaining that India is the most populated country in the world and is one of the top five economies by size. He also said India plays a big role in helping other countries through peacekeeping missions and efforts to bring stability to different regions. Jaishankar said many countries agree that India deserves a permanent seat, and that the United Nations, being 80 years old now, must change to reflect today’s world. According to him, the time has come for that change, and India should be a part of it.