Ministry of External Affairs said, “On the invitation of the Trump-Vance inaugural committee, EAM Dr S Jaishankar will represent the Government of India.
Jaishankar to Represent Bharat at Trump’s Inauguration
Ministry of External Affairs said, “On the invitation of the Trump-Vance inaugural committee, EAM Dr S Jaishankar will represent the Government of India at the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect Donald J Trump as the 47th President of the United States of America.” Jaishankar visited the US in the last week of December and met Mike Waltz, NSA-designate in the incoming Trump administration.
The new administration has maintained that strengthening Indo-US ties has been a bipartisan commitment and enjoys support on both sides of the aisle. But Trump’s return brings challenges as well – he has spoken out against tariffs by the Indian government, even calling it the “tariff king” and “abuser of tariffs” in the past. So, the Indian side is expecting a tough challenge on the trade front, which has grown beyond USD 190 billion in 2023.
Delhi believes that the growing assertiveness of China has been a strategic glue for India and the US, including under Trump 1.0, and expects that to continue in his second term as well. Trump championed the Quad grouping by reviving it and is expected to continue with it.
The Biden administration has started the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies, and Delhi hopes it will continue with the Trump administration – since Beijing is the biggest competitor on these critical and emerging technologies as well. There is a possibility of Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting France for the Artificial Intelligence summit early February, for which French President Emmanuel Macron is also trying to bring Trump. If that works out, the two leaders will have their first opportunity for an in-person meeting on the sidelines of the AI summit.
