India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Wednesday predicted that the United States would likely continue its shift toward isolationism, irrespective of the outcome of the U.S. presidential election. Speaking in Canberra, Jaishankar noted that the trend of cautious U.S. global engagement has been in motion for some time, dating back to the presidency of Barack Obama.

Jaishankar pointed to recent U.S. actions under President Joe Biden, including the withdrawal from Afghanistan, as evidence of a more restrained approach to global military commitments. He observed that former President Donald Trump also displayed a reluctance toward U.S. foreign entanglements, though often in a more vocal and explicit manner.

“It’s important to look at the U.S. more broadly than just through the lens of current administrative ideology,” Jaishankar said, suggesting that a shift away from the expansive leadership and economic support traditionally offered by the U.S. could be a lasting change. “If we are truly analyzing them, I think we have to prepare for a world where the kind of dominance and generosity the U.S. had in earlier decades may not continue.”

Despite the changing U.S. role, Jaishankar expressed optimism about India-U.S. relations, stating that the two countries' partnership would continue to strengthen in the years ahead. He underscored the need for countries like India, Australia, and New Zealand to contribute to a stable and cooperative international environment.

Australian and New Zealand foreign ministers, Penny Wong and Winston Peters, echoed Jaishankar’s sentiments, highlighting the importance of resilience and adaptability in the face of shifting global dynamics. “We all have an interest today in creating some kind of collaborative, consensual arrangement,” Jaishankar remarked, while Peters added, “The world we were once trying to build is changing, and we'll have to react and change with it.”

As global leaders assess the implications of a less interventionist U.S., there is a growing recognition of the need for regional powers to take an active role in shaping the future of global cooperation.