Recently, S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, addressed a press conference at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi. During the conference, he refuted comments made by US President Joe Biden, who suggested that India and Japan were facing economic challenges due to their rejection of immigrants. Jaishankar emphasized that India is not xenophobic and that Biden’s comments did not reflect the reality of the country.
India, as Jaishankar pointed out, has a strong and growing economy, with impressive year-on-year GDP growth. The country has a long history of openness and diversity, welcoming people from various backgrounds and cultures. Despite facing criticism for its treatment of Muslims, especially in relation to recent citizenship reforms, Jaishankar defended India’s policies and emphasized that no one has lost their citizenship as a result.
In his remarks, Biden grouped India and Japan with China and Russia, accusing them of being xenophobic and rejecting immigrants. Both India and Japan have expressed disappointment with these comments, with Tokyo stating that Biden’s remarks did not accurately reflect their policies. Biden’s administration has sought to strengthen ties with Asian allies, including India and Japan, since taking office.
While the White House has attempted to downplay Biden’s comments, emphasizing that the United States is a nation of immigrants, the incident has highlighted the complexities of global relations and the importance of understanding and respecting different countries’ policies and perspectives.