'India decides its own rise': EAM Jaishankar reacts to US official’s ‘economic rival’ remark

EAM S Jaishankar

• India's rise will be determined by its own strengths
• Jaishankar responds to US comments on India's economic growth
• US says it won't give India same advantages it gave China

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In no uncertain terms, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar underlined that India’s rise is “unstoppable” and the country alone will determine the trajectory of its growth on the basis of its strengths.

Jaishankar's remark, made during a discussion at the Raisina Dialogue, is seen as response to a senior American official said that the US will not allow India to become an economic rival like China.

Two days after US deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau said at the same forum that his country will not repeat the mistake of providing India the same type of economic advantages it gave China, allowing Beijing to emerge as a key competitor, Jaishankar emphasised that New Delhi's strength comes from its strong foundational tenets.

“When we speak today about the rise of countries…the rise of countries is determined by the countries. The rise of India will be determined by India,” Jaishankar quipped while participating in the discussion on cooperation among countries of the Indian Ocean region.

“It will be determined by our strength, not by the mistakes of others,” the EAM said without directly naming any country or individual, though it was apparent he was referring to Landau’s comments at a conversation on India-US relations.

Landau, a lawyer who has served as an envoy in both terms of US President Donald Trump, had highlighted the American leader’s vision for an “America First” foreign policy that emphasised the US is not a “charity organisation”.

While backing the trade deal that Washington and New Delhi are finalising, Landau said: “But again, India should understand that we are not going to make the same mistakes with India that we made with China 20 years ago in terms of saying, we are going to let you develop all these markets, and then, the next thing we know, you are beating us in a lot of commercial things.”