India-U.S. Ties Are Not Just About China, Says Jaishankar in New York

External Affairs Minister **Dr. S. Jaishankar emphasized on Monday that it is inaccurate and misleading to frame the India-U.S. relationship solely through the lens of China**, saying such a view oversimplifies a complex and evolving partnership.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar in conversation with Newsweek CEO Dev Pragad in New York

Speaking at a conversation with Newsweek CEO Dev Pragad at One World Trade Center in Manhattan, Mr. Jaishankar underlined that the India-U.S. equation is anchored in a wide range of shared interests beyond geopolitics.

Beyond China: A Broader India-U.S. Partnership

Addressing a question on whether New Delhi’s partnership with Washington is largely shaped by its stance on Beijing, Mr. Jaishankar responded candidly:

“It’s not just an oversimplification, it’s misleading. Our relationship with the U.S. spans trade, technology, people-to-people ties, and security cooperation across multiple regions — not just Asia-Pacific.”

He highlighted the strong Indian diaspora in the U.S. as a transformative factor in bilateral relations, independent of China’s role.

Strong Economic and Tech Ties

Mr. Jaishankar cited robust trade figures and growing technology collaboration as examples of a flourishing relationship.

“Look at the trade numbers, the tech exchanges, and the joint work we do to secure maritime trade routes in the Arabian Sea. This has little to do with China and everything to do with global cooperation,” he said.

Call for Nuanced Understanding

Calling out what he termed the “age of oversimplification,” Mr. Jaishankar urged analysts and commentators to avoid narrowing complex international relations to single-issue narratives.

“The world is multi-causal. India has far more interests and engagement areas than just dealing with one neighbor.”

India’s Balanced View on China

Acknowledging the evolving dynamic between the U.S. and China, the External Affairs Minister said the India-China relationship is also guided by realism and strategic balance.

“We are China’s largest neighbor. We seek stability along the border, even as we maintain trade, though imbalanced,” he noted.

India’s foreign policy, according to Mr. Jaishankar, is about creating fair equilibrium with China while maximizing alignment with the U.S. on strategic and economic fronts.