NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Thursday described US President Donald Trump an “American nationalist” and said India will “have to conduct foreign policies out of syllabus in the interest of the country”.
Speaking about the recent inauguration ceremony that Jaishankar attended in the United States, the minister said, “I recently attended his (Trump’s) oath-taking ceremony and we received good treatment. I believe he is an American nationalist.”
Addressing the implications of Trump’s policies on global affairs, Jaishankar maintained that India’s foreign policy would remain focused on national priorities, news agency PTI reported. “Yes, he (Trump) will change a lot of things, maybe some things will be out of syllabus, but we have to conduct foreign policies out of syllabus in the interest of the country,” he said, adding, “There may be some issues where we differ, but there will be many areas where things will be in our shed.”
Jaishankar also stressed the strong personal ties between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump, saying, “Our relationship with the US is strong and Modi has a good personal relationship with Trump.”
During the discussion, Jaishankar observed the growing international recognition of India’s influence, noting how some non-Indians now claim Indian identity for perceived advantages.
“Even non-Indians now say they are Indians, they think it will help them get a seat on a plane somewhere,” he said.
Speaking about his professional journey, Jaishankar discussed his unexpected transition from academic and diplomatic roles to politics, crediting Prime Minister Modi’s persuasive approach for this change. “I never thought I would become a bureaucrat. My entry into politics happened by accident, or call it fortune, or call it Modi. He (PM Modi) pursued me in a manner that nobody could say no,” he said.
He highlighted that Indians living abroad still rely on their homeland for support and said, “Jo bhi desh ke baahar jate hain, woh hamaare paas hee aate hain. Baahar hum hee rakhwale hain (Those who leave the country turn to us only. We are their caretakers outside).”