Very gross oversimplification, misleading to make India-US relations about China: EAM Jaishankar

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that it is a “very gross oversimplification” and “even misleading at times” to make the India-US relationship about China.

            Jaishankar was responding to a question on how much of the India-US relationship is defined by its stance on China.

            “I think it’s a very gross oversimplification to make India-US about China. In fact, it’s not just an oversimplification. I think it’s even misleading at times,” Jaishankar said on Monday during a conversation with Newsweek CEO Dev Pragad at the publication’s headquarters at One World Trade Centre near the 9/11 Memorial in Manhattan.

            He said that the India-US relationship is about “so many other things,” noting the large Indian community, which contributes significantly to the US.

            “I think it’s been a game-changer. It has got nothing to do with China,” he said.

            He stressed that Washington and Delhi have a very strong economic connect.

            “Look at our trade numbers and look at the relevance of that trade to our respective economies. Look at our technology connect,” he said, adding that there is a tendency to point even the defence or security cooperation towards China, but “I ask you to look at the other coast. We work to keep the Arabian Sea safe for global shipping.

            “This is (an) age of oversimplification. I urge you not to fall into that. I think the world is much more nuanced. It’s much more multi-causal. We have many more interests than just one country. I would certainly like to believe that the relationship is going well because there is great merit in me,” Jaishankar said.

            He added that there are certain realities of the landscape, and one of them is that the relationship between the US and China is not what it used to be, it has acquired a much sharper competitive edge.