External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has emphasized that while no relationship is without issues, India and the U.S. have consistently maintained a positive trajectory over the last two decades. Speaking to Newsweek ahead of the Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting, Jaishankar said the long-term direction of India-U.S. ties remains firmly upward.

“For the last 25 years, through five different U.S. presidents — Clinton, Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden — India-U.S. relations have steadily improved,” he noted. “Every presidency may have had its moments of friction, but the overall outcome has always been progress.”

Jaishankar acknowledged occasional disagreements, such as past trade disputes, U.S. arms sales to Pakistan, and the arrest of an Indian diplomat in New York. “We dealt with it,” he said. “What matters is the ability to manage differences and keep the relationship moving in a positive direction.”

He outlined the key structural pillars that sustain India-U.S. ties: economics, technology, education, people-to-people connections, security, and energy. “These are powerful drivers that ensure stability and growth,” he said.

Speaking on ongoing trade talks, Jaishankar expressed cautious optimism: “We’re hopefully more than halfway through a very complex negotiation. My hope is we bring it to a successful conclusion.”

White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt also confirmed that the trade deal is in its final stages.

Sharing his interview on X, Jaishankar wrote, “Shared perspectives on India’s role and position in a multipolar world — as a civilisational state, a pluralistic democracy, a talent pool, a diplomatic bridge and a voice of the Global South.”

Jaishankar is set to meet U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the upcoming Quad summit, which will also include counterparts from Japan and Australia.