‘Our relationship with America will only grow’: Jaishankar on India-US ties amid presidential election 2024 | India News

NEW DELHI: As Americans swarmed polling booths on a historic Tuesday, India’s external affairs minister S Jaishankar offered a reassuring message: The India-US relationship is a train on steady tracks, no matter who takes the White House.
In a joint press briefing with Australian counterpart Penny Wong, Jaishankar confidently stated that the India-US bond has not only survived but thrived through five different presidencies. He quipped, “Our relationship with the United States will only grow, regardless of the election outcome.”
Trump or Harris? The Quad stands firm
With polls showing a razor-thin margin between Democratic nominee Kamala Harris and Republican stalwart Donald Trump, global eyes are on America. Yet, for India, it’s not a question of who but what—specifically, the enduring strength of the Quad alliance.
Jaishankar highlighted the Quad’s revival under Trump in 2017, reminding skeptics that this security dialogue isn’t swayed by political winds. “Even during the height of the pandemic, when meetings became virtual, the Quad ministers met physically in Tokyo,” he noted, signaling the alliance’s resilience.
Australia’s Take: Quad beyond politics
Echoing Jaishankar’s sentiment, Penny Wong painted a vision of the Quad that transcends election cycles. “It’s not about personalities or politics but shared values and goals,” Wong emphasized. “The Quad is a forum where diverse perspectives—American, Indian, Australian, and Japanese—converge for a strategic dialogue on the Indo-Pacific.”
A unified front against uncertainty
While the world watches America decide its next chapter, Jaishankar and Wong’s message is clear: India and its allies are playing the long game. The Quad, they assert, is more than a diplomatic arrangement—it’s a cornerstone for a stable, inclusive Indo-Pacific.
As election fever grips the globe, Jaishankar’s confidence in Indo-US ties offers a reassuring narrative: amid uncertainty, some bonds only strengthen.