New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said that even as many countries are anxious and nervous after Donald Trump winning the US presidential election, India is not one of them.
Speaking at the Aditya Birla 25th silver jubilee scholarship programme in Mumbai, the EAM said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was “among the first three calls” that Trump took after winning the election, emphasising that PM Modi had developed close ties with several US Presidents.
He said, ““When he (PM Modi) first visited Washington D.C., Barack Obama was the President, then it was Donald Trump and then it was Joe Biden. There is something natural in terms of how he forges those relationships…”
‘Key shift in India’s contemporary foreign policy’
Jaishankar also pointed out that India’s desire to explore the world has grown, be it in tourism, education, or work opportunities. While pointing out that appreciation of the India story was growing across the globe, he noted that the emphasis on economic policy has become a key shift in India’s contemporary foreign policy, and it is aimed at not just advancing national development but also at ensuring national security.
“We no longer measure each other just by military capabilities or political influence, but take into account technology strengths, economic resilience, human creativity and societal well-being. No nation can truly develop in a unidimensional manner. And large ones, in particular like us, must have some basic self-sufficiency,” he underlined, while emphasising on Atmanirbhar Bharat.
Highlighting the shift in global demographics, where the demand for services is growing while many societies are grappling to meet these needs, Jaishankar said that this offers an opportunity for India. “A better educated, skilled and confident generation of Indians will have openings that could not be contemplated earlier. In fact, the interest in Indian talents is probably the most frequent theme in my conversations with foreign governments and corporates.”
