External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with Congressman Michael Waltz, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for National Security Advisor, during his official visit to the US from December 24-29. The meeting involved a comprehensive discussion on the bilateral partnership between India and the US as well as current global issues.
Jaishankar expressed that he was “looking forward” to collaborating with Waltz, who will replace Jake Sullivan as the National Security Advisor on January 20, when Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th President of the United States. This meeting marks the first highest-level in-person interaction between the Indian government and the incoming Trump administration. “Delighted to meet Waltz this evening,” EAM Jaishankar posted on X on Friday.
“Enjoyed a wide-ranging conversation on our bilateral partnership as well as current global issues. Look forward to working with him,” he said. Earlier on Friday, EAM Jaishankar mentioned that he “concluded a very useful two-day conference of team @IndianEmbassyUS and our Consuls General in Washington DC”.
Jaishankar discusses partnership with Waltz
He expressed confidence that the deliberations would accelerate the continuous growth of the India-US partnership. Waltz, a Congressman from Florida and co-chair of the India Caucus, is known for his critical stance on President Joe Biden’s foreign policy and serves on several key House Committees, including Armed Services, Foreign Affairs, and Intelligence.
He has called for more European support for Ukraine and stronger US measures, aligning with a key foreign policy goal of President-elect Trump. Waltz has also been a staunch critic of the Biden administration’s 2021 withdrawal from Afghanistan. As a member of the Republican’s China Taskforce, Waltz has argued that the US military needs to be better prepared for potential conflicts in the Indo-Pacific region.
He was considered a candidate to lead the Pentagon and has been transparent about his interest in serving in the administration. The position of National Security Advisor does not require Senate confirmation. Waltz, who is also a co-chair of the India Caucus in the House, will be dealing with Ajit Doval, the Indian NSA, who has had a rotating roster of US counterparts in both Trump and Biden administrations.
As Trump’s NSA, Waltz will engage with Ajit Doval and continue to strengthen the India-US relationship, focusing on global security and cooperation. Trump is rapidly announcing the key personnel of his incoming administration, including Susan Wiles as his White House Chief of Staff, the first woman to hold the position, and Stephen Miller as a senior adviser.
