Jaishankar and Rubio Welcome India-US Trade Deal, Discuss Critical Minerals and Energy Security
The meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington DC on Tuesday marked a significant step in strengthening bilateral ties, with both leaders welcoming the recent trade agreement between India and the United States.
Trade Deal Commended by Both Sides
During their bilateral discussions at the State Department, Jaishankar and Rubio commended the trade deal reached between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump. This agreement includes a reduction in the US reciprocal tariff on India from 25 per cent to 18 per cent, a move expected to boost economic exchanges between the two nations.
State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott noted in a readout that the leaders emphasized the importance of their democracies working together to unlock new economic opportunities and advance shared energy security goals.
Focus on Critical Minerals and Strategic Partnership
The conversation between Jaishankar and Rubio was wide-ranging, covering various facets of the India-US Strategic Partnership. Key topics included trade, energy, nuclear cooperation, defence, critical minerals, and technology.
Both leaders discussed formalizing bilateral cooperation on critical minerals exploration, mining, and processing. This discussion is particularly timely, as it precedes the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial meeting convened by the US on Wednesday, which Jaishankar is scheduled to attend during his visit from February 2 to 4.
Social Media Updates Highlight Cooperation
After the meeting, Jaishankar took to X to express his delight, stating, "Delighted to meet US @SecRubio this afternoon. A wide-ranging conversation that covered our bilateral cooperation agenda, regional and global issues." He added that they agreed on early meetings of various mechanisms to advance shared interests.
Rubio echoed this sentiment in his own post, saying, "Met with Indian External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar to discuss our bilateral cooperation on critical minerals exploration and work together to unlock new economic opportunities between our two countries. We also commended the trade deal between the United States and India."
Commitment to Regional and Global Issues
The meeting concluded with both leaders expressing their commitment to expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation through the Quad. They acknowledged that a prosperous Indo-Pacific region remains vital to advancing their shared interests, highlighting the strategic importance of their partnership beyond economic matters.
This engagement underscores the ongoing efforts to deepen India-US relations, with critical minerals and energy security emerging as key areas for future collaboration, alongside the foundational trade deal that sets a positive tone for bilateral economic interactions.
