NEW DELHI (Diya TV) — External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said Tuesday that India’s trade negotiations with the United States were advancing, while urging countries to reassess their relationships with Washington as it changes its approach to international affairs.
Speaking with Bloomberg News Editor-in-Chief John Micklethwait at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum, Jaishankar said U.S. policy changes required a realistic response.
“The reality is the United States has repositioned itself,” he said.
Jaishankar described the trade negotiations as advanced, with officials working through remaining differences. He declined to disclose negotiating details or announce a completion date. The discussions follow disputes over U.S. tariffs and India’s purchases of Russian oil.
He also distinguished India’s strategic partnership with Washington from a formal alliance, saying the countries maintain cooperation without treaty obligations.
Defending New Delhi’s relationship with Moscow, Jaishankar said the Ukraine war had pushed Russia toward Asia, particularly China. He argued that Russia should retain other significant partnerships and that India offered an established alternative.
On China, Jaishankar said greater stability along the disputed border since 2024 had helped relations move toward normalcy. The countries are discussing whether to resolve sections of the boundary separately or pursue a comprehensive settlement.
He said India did not require a final boundary agreement before conducting business with China, but peace along the frontier remained essential. He also separated border negotiations from decisions on investment and market access.
Jaishankar criticized the bilateral trade imbalance and said Indian businesses lacked reciprocal access to Chinese markets. He maintained that improving political relations would not remove the need to address unequal commercial conditions.
