Trump 2.0: Jaishankar anticipates a ‘degree of unpredictability’

With United States President-elect Donald Trump set to take office on January 20, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday predicted a “degree of unpredictability” for Trump’s second term, but added that when it came to India and the US, strategic ties have only grown over time.

“The advent of the second Trump Administration is obviously a major consideration in business circles. Obviously, the only safe prediction is one of a degree of unpredictability. Different countries have had their own experiences from the first Administration and would presumably draw from that to approach the second. I can state with confidence that the strategic convergences with the United States for India have only grown deeper with time,” Jaishankar said, while addressing the Confederation of Indian Industry’s Partnership Summit in New Delhi.

The Minister added that there would always be “some give and take” between the two major economies.

“When we look at economic or technology domains, the case for trusted and reliable partnerships have actually increased in recent years. A lot of what lies ahead would be in fashioning terms of engagement that are perceived and recognised to be mutually beneficial. And in that regard, the more that India can bring to the table, the stronger will be our appeal,” he said.