• Source:JND
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Jaishankar-Rubio Meet: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday held a series of high-level engagements on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), including meetings with US Ambassador to India-designate Sergio Gor and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The discussions focused on strengthening the India-US strategic partnership, addressing trade challenges, and exploring new areas of cooperation in defence, energy, critical minerals, and pharmaceuticals.

Both leaders described the talks as constructive and agreed on the need for “sustained engagement” to advance priority issues.

“Good to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio this morning in New York. 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,” Jaishankar posted on X.

Secretary Rubio also highlighted the economic and strategic potential of the relationship. “We discussed key areas of our bilateral relationship, including trade, energy, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals, and more to generate prosperity for India and the United States,” he wrote on X.

Jaishankar Meets US Ambassador-Designate Sergio Gor

Jaishankar’s meeting with Sergio Gor, the US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia and nominee for Ambassador to India, underscored the importance both nations attach to their growing bilateral ties. “US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia and Ambassador Nominee to India Sergio Gor met with India’s External Affairs Minister Jaishankar on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly,” the State Department’s Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs said in a statement. The two leaders, it added, “look forward to further promoting the success of the US-India relationship.”

Trade Tensions And Way Forward

Earlier in the day, Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel. This was their first face-to-face meeting since Washington imposed steep additional tariffs on India over its purchase of Russian oil.

In an official release, the US Department of State reaffirmed that India remains a “relationship of critical importance” for Washington. The statement noted the two sides’ commitment to work together on trade, defence cooperation, energy security, and supply chains of critical minerals. It further added that both leaders agreed to continue cooperation in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific, including through the Quad grouping, which also comprises Japan and Australia.

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The meeting came at a sensitive time in India-US relations, following President Donald Trump’s decision to impose an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, taking the total levies to 50 per cent. The move was linked to Delhi’s continued imports of discounted Russian crude.

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Despite these tensions, both sides signaled a willingness to move forward. Sources said discussions are underway to achieve an early conclusion of a bilateral trade agreement, which could help offset the impact of tariffs and reassure investors.