India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has countered the argument that the India-US connection is all about China, and said such a description is both simplistic and sometimes disingenuous.
Addressing a question on how much New Delhi and Washington's partnership is defined by their position on Beijing, Jaishankar said, "I think it's a very gross oversimplification to make India-US about China.". Actually, it's not only an oversimplification. I believe it's even misleading at times."
He was speaking on Monday in a conversation with Newsweek CEO Dev Pragad, conducted at the magazine's headquarters at One World Trade Center near Manhattan's 9/11 Memorial.
Jaishankar underscored that the bilateral dynamic between India and the US runs much deeper than issues related to China. He cited the dynamic and thriving Indian diaspora in the US as a shining example, pointing out their immense contributions to US society. "I think it's been a game-changer. It has got nothing to do with China," he stated.
Emphasizing the scope of interaction between the two nations, Jaishankar referred to strong trade numbers and extensive technological cooperation. "Compare our trade numbers and compare the significance of that trade to our own economies. Compare our technology link," he challenged. While conceding that strategic and defence cooperation is commonly perceived through the China prism, he refuted that perception with an expanded vision. I want you to see the other coast," he said. "We take the trouble to make the Arabian Sea secure for international shipping,".
He cautioned against falling into the pit of reductionist thinking in a rapidly complexifying world. "This is (an) era of oversimplification. I would tell you not to fall into that. I believe the world is far more nuanced. It's far more multi-causal. We have much more interests than one nation. I would definitely like to believe that the relationship is good because there is excellent merit in me," Jaishankar said.
Recognizing the changing dynamics of the global geopolitical landscape, Jaishankar said that the relationship between the US and China has grown more confrontational over the years. "Frankly, where we are interested, we see these two nations, and both of them have made up their minds regarding how they perceive the other. Clearly, there will be an element of tactics to it. There's a bigger strategic vision that they have for each other," he clarified.
From India’s standpoint, the goal is to navigate this evolving landscape by advancing its own interests. “I think in many ways, you can see that we have very strong convergences with the United States. At the same time, we are China’s largest neighbour. We share a land boundary. We want stable relations with China,” he stated.
While China remains a key trade partner, Jaishankar acknowledged the imbalance in that trade. Nevertheless, he said that he wants to stabilize relations with Beijing but at the same time go on to further intensify cooperation with the US. "So for us, how to sort of steady the China relationship, create an equilibrium that is fair to us (and) at the same time, how do you work the convergences with the United States and get the most out of it.". I mean, that's, in fact, the way we would do it," he said.
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