Jaishankar Meets US Officials Rubio and Bessent to Strengthen Economic Partnership Ahead of Critical Minerals Summit
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held significant meetings with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington DC on Wednesday, focusing on advancing the India-US economic partnership. This comes just a day after India and the US agreed on a trade deal that would reduce tariffs to 18 per cent, marking a pivotal step in bilateral relations.
Discussions on Strategic Cooperation and Critical Minerals
During the meeting with Secretary Rubio, Jaishankar engaged in a wide-ranging conversation that covered various aspects of bilateral cooperation, including trade, energy, nuclear issues, defence, critical minerals, and technology. Both leaders agreed on the importance of holding early meetings of various mechanisms to advance shared interests, emphasizing the multifaceted nature of the India-US Strategic Partnership.
After the meeting, Jaishankar posted on social media, "Delighted to meet US @SecRubio this afternoon. A wide-ranging conversation that covered our bilateral cooperation agenda, regional and global issues." He further noted that they discussed facets of the partnership and agreed to expedite collaborative efforts.
Focus on Unlocking New Economic Opportunities
Secretary Rubio highlighted the meeting's focus on bilateral cooperation in critical minerals exploration, stating, "We discussed working together to unlock new economic opportunities between our two countries." He also commended the recent trade deal between the United States and India, underscoring its significance in fostering economic growth and stability.
Tommy Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson for the State Department, elaborated that the discussions included formalizing cooperation on critical minerals exploration, mining, and processing. Both leaders welcomed the trade deal reached between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi, emphasizing the role of democracies in unlocking new economic opportunities and advancing shared energy security goals.
Commitment to Quad and Indo-Pacific Prosperity
The meeting concluded with a commitment to expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation through the Quad framework. Pigott noted, "Secretary Rubio and Minister Jaishankar acknowledged that a prosperous Indo-Pacific region remains vital to advancing our shared interests." India is expected to host the Quad leaders' summit this year, as planned previously, further solidifying regional collaboration.
Economic Partnership Talks with Treasury Secretary Bessent
In a separate meeting with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Jaishankar had a "useful discussion on advancement of India-US economic partnership and strategic cooperation." Bessent addressed the importance of securing supply chains and other national and economic security issues of mutual interest, reflecting ongoing dialogues on global economic stability.
Notably, Bessent had previously expressed concerns about India's purchases of Russian oil, criticizing European allies for their stance. Last week, following the free trade agreement between India and the European Union, he described the Europeans as "very disappointing" for not joining Washington in imposing tariffs on New Delhi over Russian oil purchases, highlighting the complexities in international trade dynamics.
Inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial
Jaishankar's visit to the United States from February 2-4 includes participation in the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial convened by Secretary Rubio. The US aims to advance collective efforts to strengthen and diversify critical minerals supply chains, which are vital for technological innovation, economic strength, and national security.
The US State Department described this gathering as historic, stating it will create momentum for collaboration to secure these critical components. Key participants include US Vice President J D Vance, Secretary Rubio, Special Assistant to the President David Copley, and Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg, underscoring the high-level importance of this initiative.
Overall, these meetings underscore the deepening ties between India and the US, with a strong focus on economic opportunities, strategic cooperation, and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.
