On Tuesday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will begin his first visit to the United States since Donald Trump won the presidential election earlier this year. This visit is expected to be the final high-level engagement between India and the outgoing Joe Biden administration. It is unclear whether Jaishankar will meet with any officials from the incoming Trump administration during his six-day trip, which starts today. Trump is set to be inaugurated as US President next month.
Sources from India Today TV suggest that Jaishankar will meet with the Indian Ambassador and all Consul Generals in the US, likely briefing them on India's approach to the incoming Trump administration.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.(Dr. S. Jaishankar-X)
In an effort to stay ahead of other countries, Jaishankar is expected to instruct Indian officials in the US to engage with the Trump 2.0 team to gain insights into their priorities. Foreign policy experts view this as a forward-thinking visit, with Jaishankar aiming to understand not only the sentiments of the outgoing administration but also the outlook of the incoming Trump administration.
According to a Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) press release, Jaishankar will meet with his counterpart, Anthony Blinken, and other officials from the Biden administration to discuss key global, regional, strategic, and bilateral issues, with the goal of strengthening India-US relations.
"External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit the United States of America from December 24-29," The MEA stated that Jaishankar will be meeting with all the US-based Indian Consul Generals during his visit.
India-US Relations
The visit comes at a time when the India-US relationship has faced some strain following allegations of a plot to assassinate Khalistani terrorist Gurpatwant Singh Pannu on American soil. The Biden administration has also been perceived as aligning with the Canadian government, led by Justin Trudeau, in its accusations against India over the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
However, with Trump set to return to the Oval Office in just over a month, Trudeau's cordial relations with the US may be short-lived, which could be welcomed by India. Before taking office, Trump made strong statements condemning attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh and criticized Kamala Harris and Joe Biden for allegedly ignoring Hindus globally.
Earlier this month, Jaishankar, speaking at an event in Delhi, remarked that Trump has always maintained a favorable political stance towards India. He added that under a Trump presidency, India would be in a stronger position to establish "deeper" ties with the US compared to other nations.
Continuity Amidst Change
Geopolitical experts do not anticipate significant shifts in the India-US relationship under Donald Trump's presidency. The relationship is expected to follow a course of continuity, similar to what was seen during the transition from the Trump 1.0 administration to President Joe Biden.
Several initiatives launched during the Trump administration, including the Quad, were expanded and strengthened under Biden, particularly in technology and defense sectors.
In 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Biden launched the US-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET) to enhance cooperation in high-tech fields. In response to China's growing influence, India secured major defense deals with the Biden administration, including the purchase of 31 Predator drones, 15 Sea Guardian drones, and eight Sky Guardian drones for its air force and army.
However, India may remain cautious about Trump's stance on issues such as imposing reciprocal tariffs, strict immigration policies, and his lack of commitment to global environmental efforts and green energy initiatives.
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