Jaishankar Comments on Global Policy Volatility Amid US Tariffs and Visa Changes

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar indirectly referenced US President Donald Trump while discussing recent tariffs on Indian imports and higher fees for H-1B visa petitions. “A few months, weeks and tweets make a difference,” he remarked.

Jaishankar made the comments during an ORF panel discussion on ‘At the Heart of Development – Aid, Trade & Technology’ in New York, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.

He noted the heightened unpredictability in global affairs:

“A few months ago, it was very clear the world was moving towards much greater unpredictability, volatility, [and] uncertainty.”

Addressing the practical implications of policy changes worldwide, Jaishankar said,

“The level of policy changes and their practical impact, played out publicly, is one part of it.”

Focusing on supply chains, he added,

“When we said let’s de-risk the world and hedge against uncertainty, it meant having more production centres, more resilient, redundant supply chains… We also have to protect ourselves against the uncertainty of market access.”

He emphasized that while economic processes are increasingly risky, protecting national interests remains paramount:

“The central proposition in diplomacy and international relations is how to de-risk, hedge, and become more resilient.”