Limits to agreement between Trump and Xi, says Jaishankar after summit
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has assessed the recent meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, stating that there are inherent limits to what the two leaders can agree upon. Speaking at the Asia Society Policy Institute in New York after high-level UN diplomatic engagements, Jaishankar noted that while the world's two most consequential economies may find points of convergence, they remain in a competitive mode overall.
Jaishankar observed that the competitive positioning between the US and China leaves limited scope for agreement "vis-a-vis the rest of the world." He highlighted that all countries, including India, are responding by seeking to "de-risk" and "diversify" their partnerships to manage ties in this complex environment. The minister emphasized that countries are calculating their optimal solutions, identifying new partners, and seeking greater value from existing partnerships amid the challenging global situation.
On bilateral matters, Jaishankar addressed Indo-US trade deal negotiations, noting their complex nature but confirming they have reached "more or less an understanding on the trade agreement." He also flagged terrorism from Pakistan as a key Indian concern, noting that when matters of deep importance to India are not fully appreciated by the US, it impacts the relationship.
