In a historic address to Indian-Americans at the India House, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar celebrated the remarkable blossoming of the India-US relationship, characterizing it as an “all-time high” and expressing the mutual sentiment that the two nations now view each other as “very desirable, optimal, and comfortable partners.”
With an air of optimism and enthusiasm, Minister Jaishankar went on to emphasize the trajectory of this burgeoning alliance, declaring that “you ain’t seen anything yet.” He pointed out that in today’s rapidly evolving global landscape, India and the United States have evolved to a point where it is not only natural but instinctual to engage in open and productive conversations. This sentiment, he assured the audience, is the foundation upon which the two countries will continue to build their relationship.
Jaishankar, drawing upon his extensive experience in Indo-US bilateral relations dating back to 1985, underscored the uniqueness of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent state visit to the United States. “This one was different,” he noted, “different in optics.” He articulated that the dynamics had shifted from merely dealing with each other to actively working alongside each other, symbolizing the depth and breadth of the collaboration between the two nations.
Highlighting various collaborative endeavors, Jaishankar pointed to initiatives such as the India-Middle East Economic Corridor, the I2U2 partnership (comprising India, Israel, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates), Indo-Pacific cooperation, and the initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET). With a touch of humor, he playfully mentioned that the alphabet ‘I’ seems to bode well for the United States in these partnerships.
“The new India is an India of Chandraayan, it’s an India of CoWIN, it’s an India of 5G,” Jaishankar continued. “This is really what we are capable of, and it is this India today that the US also sees. It is this India with which the US actually has an appetite for working, much more closely.”
The optimism in Jaishankar’s words was palpable when he declared, “Our relationship is at an all-time high… we are going to take it to a different level… I can promise this relationship, like Chandrayaan, will go to the moon, maybe even beyond.”
This significant shift in the India-US relationship underscores the growing importance of their partnership in addressing global challenges, fostering economic growth, and promoting peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. As the two nations embark on this new phase of their relationship, the world watches with great anticipation, recognizing the potential for a brighter future built upon the foundations of trust, cooperation, and shared values. The future indeed looks promising for the India-US partnership as it aims to reach new heights, just as Chandrayaan ventured into uncharted territory, symbolizing boundless possibilities on the horizon.
