Jaishankar and Japan Slam Biden’s Comment on Xenophobia and Citizenship: A Look at India’s Openness to Refugees and Immigration in the Context of Global Economic Growth

During a roundtable hosted by a newspaper on Friday, Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar challenged US President Joe Biden’s comment that “xenophobia” was hindering India’s economic growth. Jaishankar emphasized that India’s economy is doing well and that the country has always been open to people in need of refuge and those seeking citizenship. He mentioned the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as an example of India’s openness to refugees and citizenship seekers.

India rejected Biden’s characterization of xenophobia, stating that it did not accurately reflect the country’s policies. Japan also expressed disappointment over Biden’s comments, suggesting that his remarks were misguided and not based on an accurate understanding of Japan’s policy positions. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently forecasted a slowdown in economic growth in Asia’s three largest economies in 2024. However, the US economy is expected to grow, with many economists attributing this growth to immigration expanding the country’s labor force. Biden’s comments on immigration’s role in economic growth sparked debate and criticism worldwide.