US has set radically new terms of engagement by dealing with nations on one-on-one basis, says EAM Jaishankar

EAM Jaishankar

Hours after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar flagged the global risks for economies in today’s time in veiled reference to US, the EAM pointed out that the United States has set radically new terms of engagement by dealing with countries on a one-on-one basis.

Jaishankar made the remark after being conferred an Honorary Doctorate by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kolkata. "India has been actively pursuing self-reliance and making itself a manufacturing base for industries," he observed.

The External Affairs Minister's remarks came particularly against the backdrop when India and the US are continuing negotiations for a trade deal, specifically in light of the 50 per cent tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on India, over three months ago.

Noting that one-third of global production currently takes place in China, Jaishankar said that it has put the spotlight on the "resilience and reliability" of supply chains. "We are now moving ahead, by any standards," he said, maintaining that the world is taking note of the advancements being made by India.

"With these considerations in mind, we are today endeavouring to forge new trade arrangements and promote fresh connectivity initiatives," the minister said.

Jaishankar said that when it comes to increasing comprehensive national power, India's role in diplomacy is "active rather than passive". "Promoting industrial growth and even incentivising it is a key economic priority," the minister said, maintaining that emphasis on 'Make in India' in the last decade speaks of a "different mindset and greater ambition"