Eliciting laughter and applause from the audience, Jaishankar's response not only showcased his wit but also signalled the recent strides in India's international standing. It points at the evolving dynamics of the relationship between the two nations, which has seen its fair share of complexities and friction, with the US often having the upper hand.
Jaishankar further elaborated: “I think it’s a relationship which is growing and evolving. But it will have its friction points, and there’s a practical reason behind it — the US, given its history and dominance, is used to a certain way of dealing with other countries…”
He added: “But now, both countries (the US and India) have entered a new ground. My own experience in Quad (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue - QSD) is that they have adjusted a lot and accepted this in many ways.”
The External Affairs Minister proceeded to illustrate with a discussion he had with his American counterparts regarding the purchase of Russian oil. He revealed that despite their initial resistance, engaging in dialogue led to a shift in the USA’s perspective — a contrast to the Europeans who, according to Jaishankar, reacted more emotionally, perhaps influenced by their proximity to the conflict zone.
Jaishankar ultimately concluded that despite the “baggage” in the Indo-US relationship, the moment has arrived to transcend past issues and embark on new avenues of cooperation.
These remarks closely echo those made by the minister last week, wherein he reiterated that the positive trajectory of
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