US, India met for more talks this week, discussed Russian oil purchases: Marco Rubio

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio

The US and India held meetings on September 22, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on September 23, citing its Russian oil purchases.

"We had meetings with them again yesterday, and it has to do with their purchase of Russian oil," Rubio said in a interview on ABC News' "Good Morning America" program on Tuesday, citing "a lot of progress."

Rubio did not say whether the two sides discussed the Trump administration's H-1B visa $100,000 fee or Washington's demands that India open its agriculture and dairy sector for U.S. companies.

Earlier on Monday, Rubio had met external affairs minister S Jaishankar, saying India remains a 'critical' partner of Washington.

The meeting between the two leaders is seen as an effort to repair the relationship that was strained following imposition of 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods and an increase in H-1B visa fee.

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."

Jaishankar said that the meeting touched upon several bilateral and international concerns. “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 on X.

Trump last month imposed a 25 percent punitive levy on Indian imports from August 27, doubling overall tariffs to 50 percent, as his administration pressures New Delhi to cut its Russian oil purchases.

Indian officials will ask US trade negotiators this week to ease access for thousands of skilled workers, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a public address over the weekend, urged citizens to use local products and avoid foreign-made ones.

With agency inputs