On Wednesday, India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, suggested that Donald Trump’s return to the White House would not drastically alter the U.S.’s foreign policy direction but could lead to a more assertive expression of American global commitments.
Speaking at the “Raisina Down Under” event in Canberra during his visit to Australia, Jaishankar shared insights on how Trump’s victory might shape U.S. engagement with international partners.
Jaishankar emphasized that recent U.S. administrations, beginning with President Obama, have shown an increasingly cautious approach to global commitments. “Probably starting from Obama, the U.S. has become more inward-looking,” he noted. “President Trump may be more articulate and expressive in that regard.”
This remark hints at a style of engagement from Trump that could be more vocal, though not necessarily different in substance, in signalling U.S. priorities abroad.
Meanwhile, Trump secured his second term in the U.S. presidential election, surpassing the required 270 electoral votes by winning 277, as per projections by Fox News. With some votes still being counted, Trump is expected to reach a total of 312 electoral votes, leaving his Democratic opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, behind with 226 votes.
Indian PM congratulates Donald Trump
Following the media declaration of Trump’s victory, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to Trump on X. “Heartiest congratulations, my friend Donald Trump, on your historic election victory,” Modi wrote. He expressed hope in building upon the achievements of Trump’s previous term to further bolster the U.S.-India Comprehensive Global and Strategic Partnership.
Modi emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between the two nations for global peace, stability, and prosperity, sharing photos with Trump in his congratulatory post.
In the United States, the Electoral College, a 538-member body, determines the presidency. Each state’s electors cast votes for the candidate who wins the popular vote in that state, with exceptions in Maine and Nebraska, where elector votes are split by congressional district results. With Trump’s win, his second term promises continuity with potential shifts in tone rather than policy.
