India-US relation: During his visit to Brussels, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar offered candid insights into India’s evolving foreign policy, strategic autonomy, and ties with key global players—including the United States under Donald Trump. In an interview with European media outlet Euractiv, Jaishankar was asked whether India could trust Trump as a reliable partner.
What did Jaishankar say about Trump and the US?
When asked if Trump was “as good as his word” and whether he was a reliable partner for India, Jaishankar responded with a rhetorical: “Meaning what?” Elaborating, he said, “I take the world as I find it. Our aim is to advance every relationship that serves our interests—and the US relationship is of immense importance to us. It’s not about personality X or president Y.”
His comments come amid ongoing debate over Washington’s claim of mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan earlier this year.
What India said about US mediation claims in ceasefire with Pak?
Jaishankar’s remarks follow renewed assertions by Donald Trump, who claimed credit for halting hostilities between India and Pakistan. At a May 31 campaign rally, Trump said he had linked trade negotiations with the need to de-escalate tensions. “We say we can’t trade with people who are shooting at each other and potentially using nuclear weapons… They understood and they agreed, and that all stopped,” he said.
Trump previously claimed on May 10 that the ceasefire—following heightened tensions and military action—was the result of “a long night of talks mediated by the United States.”
New Delhi, however, has consistently rejected such narratives. Indian officials maintain that the ceasefire after Operation Sindoor was achieved through direct bilateral engagement with Pakistan and was unrelated to any trade discussions with the US.
Pahalgam terror attack
Commenting on the recent Pahalgam terror attack and India’s subsequent response, Jaishankar framed Operation Sindoor as a counterterrorism mission. “This isn’t merely an India-Pakistan issue. It’s about terrorism,” he said. “Let me remind you—Osama bin Laden lived in a Pakistani military town, right next to their equivalent of West Point. That very same terrorism will eventually come back to haunt you.”
He also criticised international media coverage that reduced the conflict to a geopolitical rivalry. “It’s not tit-for-tat between two nuclear-armed neighbours. It’s about defending our people from terrorism,” he added.
Europe’s role
Addressing EU leaders, Jaishankar emphasised India’s commitment to a multipolar global order. “Europe must now make decisions based on its own capabilities and interests,” he said. Praising the EU as a “major pole” in the emerging world order, he noted, “That is precisely why I’m here: to deepen our relationship in this multipolar world.”