Following his meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday, US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, reiterated that India continues to be a "critical" partner for Washington. The meeting is seen as an apparent bid by both sides to repair relations ruptured by a number of U.S. actions, including the 50% tariffs on Indian goods and an increase in H-1B visa fees.
Rubio met Jaishankar on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. He also added that two countries would "continue working together to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region, including through the Quad."
Ties between Delhi and Washington have been strained by trade frictions, but had looked to be picking up again until Trump's visa announcement on Friday — a move that has hit Indian technology companies hard.
As per the US State Department, the meeting between the two top diplomats focused on various aspects of India-US bilateral ties such as trade, defense, energy, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals.
Taking to X, EAM Jaishankar said that the meeting with Rubio "covered a range of bilateral and international issues of current concern." “Our conversation covered a range of bilateral and international issues of current concern. Agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areas. We will remain in touch,” wrote Jaishankar.
The meeting between Jaishankar and Rubio on Monday was first such engagement since Trump imposed extra tariffs on India over its purchases of Russian oil. They last met in July at a meeting of the Quad grouping, which brings the two countries together with Japan and Australia which share their concerns about China's growing power.
The talks at a New York hotel on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) came even as Indian and U.S. trade negotiators prepared for their next round of talks. Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal is also in the US this week.
Jaishankar, who arrived in New York on Sunday for the high-level UNGA week, will hold a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings on the sidelines of the session and will deliver the national statement at the General Debate on September 27 from the iconic green UNGA podium.
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