External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday held a “wide-ranging conversation” with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, discussing bilateral, regional, and global issues.
“Delighted to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio this afternoon,” Jaishankar wrote on X following the meeting.
The discussions covered multiple facets of the India-US strategic partnership, including trade, energy, nuclear cooperation, defence, critical minerals, and technology.
“A wide-ranging conversation that covered our bilateral cooperation agenda, regional and global issues,” Jaishankar said. He added that both sides agreed to hold early meetings of various bilateral mechanisms to advance shared interests. “Agreed on the early meetings of various mechanisms to advance our shared interests,” he noted.
Delighted to meet US @SecRubio this afternoon.A wide ranging conversation that covered our bilateral cooperation agenda, regional and global issues. Facets of India - US Strategic Partnership discussed included trade, energy, nuclear, defence, critical minerals and… pic.twitter.com/1rbXJHgEQY— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 3, 2026
Jaishankar’s visit comes amid the backdrop of the recently announced India-US trade deal, under which Washington has agreed to reduce tariffs on Indian goods from 25 per cent to 18 per cent. He also met US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to discuss strengthening the economic partnership between the two countries.
A handout from the US State Department said Rubio and Jaishankar welcomed the trade deal reached between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi. It added that both leaders emphasised the importance of the US and India, as leading democracies, working together to unlock new economic opportunities and advance shared energy security goals.
The two leaders also reiterated their commitment to expanding cooperation through the Quad grouping. “Secretary Rubio and Minister Jaishankar concluded their meeting by expressing their commitment to expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation through the Quad,” the statement said. They acknowledged that “a prosperous Indo-Pacific region remains vital to advancing our shared interests.”
The meeting is part of Jaishankar’s ongoing three-day visit to the US, which coincides with the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington DC, chaired by Rubio and bringing together delegations from over 50 countries to strengthen collaboration on global critical mineral supply chains.
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