When External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar takes the mic, he doesn’t use sugarcoated diplomatic language. Speaking at the Asia Society event in New York, Jaishankar laid out the hard truth about India’s relationship with the United States.
Jaishankar made it crystal clear: America cannot expect smooth, easy relations with India while brushing aside the threat of cross-border terrorism coming from Pakistan.
“If one of my primary concerns is not fully appreciated by my partner, then clearly there is an impact of that on the relationship,”
– Jaishankar .
Very few countries in the world have dealt with state-sponsored terrorism from a neighbor for decades like India has. Yet, Washington often looks the other way or plays double games with Islamabad while asking New Delhi for closer trade and strategic deals. Jaishankar called out this lack of empathy head-on, reminding the US that real partnerships require mutual respect for core security needs.
The China Rule: No Peace at the Border, No Normal Relationship
When it comes to China, Jaishankar was equally sharp. While border talks have moved things in a better direction compared to the dangerous standoffs of previous years, he reminded Beijing of a basic rule of statecraft: you cannot fight at the border and pretend everything else is business as usual.
At the same time, recognizing reality, Jaishankar gave Beijing a masterclass in diplomacy: a prolonged standoff between India and China helps neither country—it only lets third parties take advantage.
“A standoff between us, a dip in our relationship, actually doesn’t help either of us. In fact, it is third parties who will take advantage of that…
– Jaishankar
Diplomacy is an “Extreme Sport” in Today’s World
Jaishankar also called out the massive power shift happening across the globe. The old days where one or two big Western powers dictated terms to everyone else are officially over, the world is now visibly multipolar.
He famously summed up modern diplomacy as an “extreme sport”. Today, countries actively weaponize supply chains, tariffs, fuel, food, and shipping routes to push their agenda. But India isn’t taking a backseat. Under Jaishankar’s bold approach, India is protecting its own interests, building new global ties, and showing the world that New Delhi will stand tall no matter who is watching.