External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday said India is clear about its “red lines” in trade negotiations with the United States and will take decisions guided by national interest.
Speaking at The Economic Times World Leaders Forum, he stressed that farmers’ and small producers’ interests remain non-negotiable. “Negotiations are still going on. But the bottom line is we have some red lines. Nobody has said the negotiations are off. Where we are concerned, the red lines are primarily the interests of our farmers and, to some extent, our small producers,” Jaishankar said. He underlined that the government was “very determined” to defend these interests.
On Donald Trump’s foreign policy, Jaishankar noted its unprecedented openness. “We’ve never had a US president who conducts foreign policy as publicly as this one. It is a departure from the traditional way of doing business with the world,” he remarked.
Responding to US criticism of India’s purchases of Russian oil, Jaishankar pushed back, pointing to what he described as double standards. “If you have a problem buying oil or refined products from Russia, don’t buy. But Europe buys, America buys. If you don’t like, don’t buy from us,” he said, emphasising that India’s decisions would be guided by strategic autonomy.
He also highlighted India’s approach to global groupings, saying: “The Quad is still the Quad and BRICS is still BRICS. Countries like us should not be forced to make binary choices. You adapt to the landscape and nature of the challenge.”
Jaishankar’s remarks underscored India’s balancing act in global diplomacy—open to negotiation, but unwilling to compromise on sovereignty, strategic independence, or the welfare of its citizens.
