External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has expressed confidence in the strength and continuity of India-US relations, describing the trend lines of the bilateral partnership over the past 25 years as “very positive.” In an interview with Newsweek during his ongoing visit to the United States, Jaishankar said he is hopeful that the two nations will soon conclude a much-anticipated bilateral trade agreement.
Reflecting on the evolution of India-US ties under the last five US Presidents—Clinton, George W. Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden—Jaishankar noted that the relationship has consistently improved at the end of each administration compared to when it began.
“The trend line over the last 25 years has been very strong,” he said, attributing this to deep-rooted structural drivers such as economics, technology, education, energy, and security cooperation. He added, “These areas continue to serve as pillars of our growing partnership.”
On the progress of the India-US trade negotiations, Jaishankar stated, “We are in the middle—hopefully more than the middle—of a very intricate trade negotiation. I believe it’s possible to reach a successful conclusion. There’s always give and take, but we must find middle ground.” The first phase of the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) is expected to be finalised by the fall of 2025.
Jaishankar acknowledged that the relationship has not been without challenges, recalling past tensions during his tenure as India’s Ambassador to the US. He cited past disputes such as compulsory licensing issues, friction over the treatment of Indian diplomats, and arms sales to Pakistan. However, he emphasized that the ability of both sides to manage differences constructively is what keeps the trajectory positive.
“Every relationship has its moments of disagreement,” he said. “But what matters is how you deal with those differences and keep the broader trend moving forward.”
Jaishankar is in the US to participate in the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (QFMM) on July 1, hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The meeting will review progress on Quad initiatives and explore new proposals ahead of the upcoming Quad Leaders’ Summit, which India will host.
Prior to his arrival in Washington, Jaishankar inaugurated a UN exhibition in New York titled “The Human Cost of Terrorism,” where he stressed the importance of confronting terrorism and exposing state-sponsored extremism.
The visit marks another step in the deepening strategic partnership between India and the United States across multiple domains.
