(Image source from: x.com/DrSJaishankar)
External affairs minister S Jaishankar mentioned on Saturday that US President Donald Trump has a very noticeable way of managing his international relationships, especially regarding trade. The Minister suggested that the topic of India purchasing oil from Russia was not brought up before Trump made his statement about increasing tariffs on India to 50 percent. While speaking at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2025, Jaishankar pointed out that Trump usually approaches foreign policy in an open manner. “We have not had a US President who handles foreign policy as openly as this one. This change is not just about India,” said Jaishankar. The minister also noted that no US president has managed domestic issues as transparently as Trump does. “Trump’s style of interacting with the global community, and even with his own country, is significantly different from the traditional methods,” he stated.
Addressing Trump’s tariffs, Jaishankar mentioned that Trump’s approach to using tariffs for both trade and non-trade issues is quite unique. He added that Trump’s administration often announces decisions in public before informing the relevant parties. “We have not had a US President who handles foreign policy as openly as this one. This change is not just about India,” said Jaishankar. The minister also emphasized that there has not been a US president who manages domestic affairs so openly as Trump. “President Trump’s method of relating to the world, even regarding his own nation, is a significant shift from the traditional approach,” he explained. Speaking about Trump’s tariffs, he noted that Trump’s method of applying tariffs for different matters is innovative. He mentioned that announcements from Trump’s administration usually happen first publicly and then are communicated to the concerned individuals.
“The fact that many of these things are expressed publicly is significant. Often, the first announcement made in a public setting is even more surprising. This is a situation affecting the whole world,” Jaishankar said. He identified three key points regarding Trump and India, with the first being trade. “Negotiations between India and the US are still active. However, we do have certain limits. These talks continue and are not off the table. Communication is ongoing. It’s not a deadlock... For us, the main concerns involve our farmers and, to a degree, our small producers,” Jaishankar explained. The second point is about the situation being framed as an oil issue. According to the minister, the same arguments used to target India are not being applied to China, the largest oil importer, or the European Union, the largest energy importer.
When discussing the share of oil that India acquires, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent noted that "If we talk about the rise in percentage - yes, some nations haven't raised their share because they have purchased oil from Iran, which the Americans also disapprove of," explained Jaishankar. The union minister also mentioned that the Biden administration was aware of India's oil dealings with Russia through a series of clear discussions, after which a price limit was established. The third point was about mediation, where the minister stated that the Indian government does not accept any outside mediation, particularly concerning its relationship with Pakistan.
