'We Keep Raising The Bar': Jaishankar Says India-US Ties 'Exceeded Expectations'

Jaishankar hailed the India-US relationship and said that the two countries have always raised the bar and exceeded expectations.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar hailed the India-US relationship on Saturday and said that the two countries have always raised the bar and exceeded expectations. He further stated that the two countries have moved to a position where they see each other as desirable, optimal, and comfortable partners.

“I am often asked, where do you think this relationship (India-US) is going…now it's hard for me today, really, to put a limit on it, to define it, to even voice expectations, because in every way…this relationship has exceeded expectations, which is why today we don't even try to define it. We actually keep raising the bar”.

“We keep finding new domains, the more we do with each other, the more we find we are able to do, explore together and achieve together,” he added.

The External Affairs Minister, who was on a visit to US, was addressing the people of the Indian diaspora at the ‘Colors of Friendship’ event at India House in Washington DC. At the event, Jaishankar said, "In this changing world, I would say today that India and the US have moved to a position where we really see each other as very desirable, optimal and comfortable partners with whom it's a natural instinct today to pick up the phone or if you meet someone and have a natural conversation".

Ahead of Gandhi Jayanti, the External Minister paid floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi. Referring to India’s G20 presidency, the EAM stated that India’s G20 presidency revolved around the message of Mahatma Gandhi, which focuses on doing the right thing and leaving no one behind.

"We are approaching Gandhi Jayanti, I would like to leave you a thought. To say he (Mahatma Gandhi) was an extraordinary man would be the understatement of this century. He said so many things so tellingly...The message at the end of the day was about doing the right thing, about doing the decent thing and about leaving no one behind. Gandhi Ji's message is very complicated, but its essence is actually very, very simple,” Jaishankar said.

He added, “When we took up the G20 presidency, the responsibility. In many ways, that message was at the heart of our thinking...What we tried to do in G20, the underlying thinking, reflected what we are trying to do in India, what I think many Americans are trying to do in America, what we India and America should be doing with the world, which is to leave no one behind”.