‘Limits to what two of them can agree upon’: Jaishankar after Trump-Xi meet

Days following the US-China meeting between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar offered his initial evaluation of the US-China encounter. The minister stated on Monday that the two nations are in a competitive stance, and all other countries, comprising India, are striving to "de-risk" and "diversify" to navigate ties.

Jaishankar also discussed the intricate nature of the Indo-US trade deal talks, yet affirmed that they have reached a point with "more or less an understanding on the trade agreement." Highlighting terrorism originating from Pakistan as a primary concern for India, the External Affairs Minister also noted that if "something of profound significance to us" is not adequately recognized by the US, it can negatively affect the relationship.

Addressing the G2 meeting between Trump and Xi in Washington, Jaishankar observed that while the second-largest economy joins the first, with "their points of convergence," the overall relationship remains "competitive." He remarked that "there are limits to what the two of them can agree upon vis-à-vis the rest of the world," and India, along with others, is now adjusting to a "different America" and a "complex global situation."

India's focus on "stakes and complexity" in the India-US trade negotiations was acknowledged, as the nation's small producers, agriculture sector, and production methods differ significantly from those of the US. Jaishankar revealed that "what is particularly crucial for India is the issue of terrorism," emphasizing that the country has experienced terrorism from a neighboring nation as a deliberate policy over many decades.

He concluded that if "something which matters deeply to us" is not fully appreciated by the US, it will undoubtedly impact the relationship between India and the US.