Don’t Demonise Trump, Analyse Him: Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar

“He represents a thought process. It’s not a momentary expression,” Jaishankar said at an event in Mumbai.

S Jaishankar spoke on Donald Trump. (Photo: The Quint)

Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar on Tuesday said US President Donald Trump, who is under attack over his controversial immigration policy, should not be “demonised”.

“Don’t demonise Trump, analyse Trump. He represents a thought process. It’s not a momentary expression,” Jaishankar said during an interactive session at the Gateway House dialogue in Mumbai.

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Trump has been facing heat over his controversial immigration policy after he put a travel ban on citizens from seven Mulsim majority countries and some other decisions of his administration, including those relating to H1B visa which caused concern in India too.

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Jaishankar, who delivered an address on “Political change and economic uncertainties” at the event co-hosted by the MEA and Gateway House, also said India has to play a larger role on the global scene.

“At a time when horizons of a lot of major countries are getting narrower... If the major (countries) are pulling back there is a space out there and it is in our interest to use that space. In my view, we should be looking at more powered position in international forum,” he said.

Jaishankar also asserted that Pakistan needs to shut down its "terrorism factory". He also said that India has not given up on SAARC, but it will keep looking for other opportunities for regional integration “since SAARC is stuck”.

Speaking on ties with China, Jaishankar said “it does not help to duck issues” and admitted that there was a need to invest more to manage the relationship better.