By Raj Shah
After US President Joe Biden labeled several countries, including India, as “xenophobic” for not welcoming immigrants, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar promptly dismissed the remarks. Speaking with The Economic Times, Jaishankar emphasized India’s longstanding openness and economic growth, noting that it is the fastest-growing major economy and recently became the fifth-largest globally.
In his remarks, President Biden also suggested that the Indian economy was underperforming compared to the thriving US economy. Mr. Jaishankar countered these claims by affirming, “First of all, our economy is not faltering.” He supported his rebuttal with evidence of India’s economic achievements, noting that it has been the fastest-growing major economy globally in recent years and ascended to the fifth-largest worldwide last year.
It is widely known that several financial institutes, like the IMF and the World Bank, have projected that India is on track to become the third-largest economy globally before the decade’s end.
Global financial services group Nomura forecasts 6.7% growth in India’s economy and 2.8% growth in the US economy in 2024. Moreover, in response to President Biden’s State of the Union speech this year, US Congressman Tom Cole said, “The President tried to sell the successes of Bidenomics, touting high wages, low inflation, and “soaring” consumer confidence. However, the truth is that real wages are down by over two percent, inflation has risen by nearly 18 percent, and Americans are spending an extra $1019 a month compared to three years ago. This is not what a successful economic agenda looks like.” He also added, “The American people who are paying more for everything from gas to groceries know the truth—this administration’s economic policies have crushed American families.”
In response to the xenophobia allegation, Mr. Jaishankar declared, “India has always been a unique country. Historically, it has been a society that is very open, welcoming people from diverse backgrounds.” He cited the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, as evidence of India’s inclusive policies, stating, “That’s why we have the CAA, which opens doors for those in distress… It’s important to be open to those who need to come to India and who have a claim to be here.”
President Biden is employing a classic strategy, often encapsulated by the adage, “The best defense is a good offense.” According to a recent survey, 28% of Americans consider immigration the most significant issue the U.S. faces today. Additionally, 20% of Americans view the government itself as the primary problem, with the economy (12%) and inflation (11%) following closely behind. Instead of acknowledging the concerns expressed by American voters regarding immigration and the economy, President Biden is redirecting blame towards other nations.
To mitigate any diplomatic tension arising from President Biden’s remarks, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean Pierre clarified his intentions, underscoring his “respect” for allies and partners. She went on to affirm that the president’s comments were part of a larger discourse on the benefits of America’s immigrant heritage and highlighted Biden’s commitment to strengthening diplomatic ties with countries like India and Japan, as evidenced by his actions over the past three years. She emphasized, “Obviously, we have a strong relationship with India and Japan, and the President has certainly focused on these diplomatic relationships in the last three years.” This is not the first time that the White House has had to clean up President Biden’s statement. President Biden has made a number of remarks in the past about the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which led to the White House intervening.
