ASEAN Summit: Jaishankar, Marco Rubio discuss bilateral ties amid trade talks

Jaishankar, Rubio discuss bilateral ties (X: @jDrSJaishankar)

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Malaysia during the ASEAN summit, noting the importance of their discussion on bilateral relations amid ongoing trade negotiations between New Delhi and Washington.

In a post on X, Jaishankar wrote, "Glad to meet @SecRubio this morning in Kuala Lumpur. Appreciated the discussion on our bilateral ties as well as regional and global issues."

Glad to meet @SecRubio this morning in Kuala Lumpur.

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Appreciated the discussion on our bilateral ties as well as regional and global issues.

🇮🇳 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/mlrqoyZypB

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 27, 2025

The meeting coincides with continuing trade talks between the two nations.

Earlier, Marco Rubio said that the US sees an opportunity to expand strategic relationship with Pakistan but it will not be at the expense of its historic and important ties with India.

Rubio, to a question on the US' ties with Pakistan, New Delhi is "concerned for obvious reasons".

"But, I think they (India) have to understand we have to have relations with a lot of different countries. We see an opportunity to expand our strategic relationship with Pakistan," he said.

"I think the Indians are very mature when it comes to diplomacy and things of that nature. Look, they have some relationships with countries that we don't have relationships with. So, it's part of a mature, pragmatic foreign policy," he said.

"I don't think anything we're doing with Pakistan comes at the expense of our relationship or friendship with India, which is deep, historic, and important," Rubio added.

The ASEAN Summit, being attended by top world leaders, continues to be a focal point for India’s foreign policy outreach under the “Act East” vision.