Canberra. (Australia): Voting for the presidential elections in America continues from Tuesday. This voting will continue till 6.30 am on Wednesday. Former President Donald Trump is the presidential candidate from the Republican Party and Kamala Harris is the presidential candidate from the Democratic Party. In terms of relations between India and America, who is better between Trump and Kamala Harris, whose victory will strengthen India's relations… External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has testified. He said on Tuesday that India has seen “steady progress” in its relations with the US during the tenure of the last five presidents.
Jaishankar said that whatever the outcome of the US elections, “India's relations with America will only get stronger”. Responding to a question during a joint press conference with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong here, Jaishankar also expressed optimism about the future of the Quad. The Quad includes America, India, Australia and Japan. Wong told reporters Australia believed the four-nation grouping “will retain its importance beyond the election outcome”. Millions of voters of America are voting to elect the 47th President. This is one of the most bitter presidential election campaigns in the history of the country.
Close contest between Kamala and Trump
According to surveys by various media groups, there is a close contest between Democratic candidate and Vice President Kamala Harris (60) and Republican Party candidate and former US President Donald Trump (78). The foreign ministers of both the countries were asked whether there is any concern about Trump winning the elections and whether his becoming President will have any impact on the Quad? In response, Jaishankar told reporters, “We have seen steady progress in our relations with the United States during the tenure of the last five presidents, including Trump's last presidency.” Therefore, when we look at the US elections, we are confident that whatever the outcome, our relations with America will become stronger.
What did the Foreign Minister say on the future of Quad?
Jaishankar said, “As far as the Quad is concerned, let me remind you that it was revived in 2017 during the Trump presidency. Subsequently, it was elevated from Permanent Secretary to Ministerial level, that too during Trump's presidency. Jaishankar said, “In fact, it is interesting that amid Covid, when face-to-face meetings have stopped. In 2020, a rare face-to-face meeting of the foreign ministers of the Quad was held in Tokyo. This should give us a hint about the possibility of a Quad.'' In 2017, the US, Japan, India and Australia agreed to establish a 'Quad' or an alliance of four countries to counter China's aggressive stance in the Indo-Pacific region. The long pending proposal was given concrete shape.
Australia also gave its opinion on Quad
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