JD Vance criticises past Western attitudes, calls for fairer US-India partnership

US Vice President JD Vance, in a pivotal address in Jaipur on April 22, strongly criticised past Western attitudes towards India, asserting that previous administrations had misjudged the country's role in the global economy and geopolitics. 

Speaking of the historical dynamics between the US and India, Vance emphasised that under President Donald Trump, the relationship would be founded on fairness, shared national interests, and mutual respect, Caliber.Az reports, citing Indian media.

"We’re not here to preach that you do things any one particular way. Too often in the past, Washington approached Prime Minister Modi with an attitude of preaching this, or even one of condescension," Vance remarked. He further slammed the previous administrations for seeing India merely as a source of low-cost labour, claiming they "criticised the Prime Minister’s government, arguably the most popular in the democratic world."

Vance’s remarks sought to distance the Trump administration from the past by highlighting its more equitable and collaborative approach to foreign relations. "We want to build relationships with our foreign partners who respect their workers, who don’t suppress their wages to boost exports, but respect the value of their labor," he asserted, drawing a stark contrast with the "soft power" approach of the previous US leadership.

The Vice President’s speech was framed around efforts to deepen trade, defence, and energy cooperation between the US and India. He discussed the ongoing trade negotiations aimed at doubling bilateral trade to $500 billion by the end of the decade, underscoring the importance of the recently finalised Terms of Reference for these talks. “I believe this is a vital step toward realizing President Trump’s and Prime Minister Modi’s vision, because it sets a roadmap toward a final deal between our nations,” Vance stated.

In his discussion of defence ties, Vance pointed to the growing collaboration in the field, with both countries committed to co-producing military equipment like Javelins and Striker combat vehicles. He noted that this military cooperation was essential not to provoke conflict but to deter "foreign aggressors" and strengthen mutual peace through power.

Vance also praised India's role in regional security, particularly its leadership in hosting the Quad Leaders' Summit, and underscored the alignment of both nations’ interests in maintaining a free, open, and peaceful Indo-Pacific. "Our interests in a free, open, peaceful and prosperous Indo Pacific are in full alignment. Both of us know that the region must remain safe for many hostile powers to seek to dominate," Vance stated.

The Vice President also addressed the need for closer energy ties, with a focus on America's vast natural resources and its desire to assist India in tapping into its own reserves, especially in offshore natural gas and critical minerals. He reiterated the Trump administration's commitment to enhancing energy security for both nations. "America has once again begun to drill, baby drill," Vance said, highlighting the economic and energy potential of this collaboration.

Vance's speech not only reinforced the importance of a fair trade system but also reflected a broader critique of the global economic structure shaped by past Western policies. He stressed that the relationship between the US and India should be rooted in a "system of global trade that is balanced, one that is open and one that is stable and fair."

“President Trump cares so deeply about protecting the manufacturing economy that is the lifeblood of American prosperity,” Vance said, reaffirming the administration's focus on ensuring economic independence and manufacturing strength. This echoed his call for stronger, more equitable ties between the US and India, where both nations could "build more, make more and grow more."

Vance's address concluded with a strong endorsement of the growing US-India partnership, calling for further cooperation across sectors, from artificial intelligence to energy security, to ensure a prosperous future for both nations.

By Aghakazim Guliyev