Washington, D.C., February 4, 2026
A day after India and the United States finalized a historic trade agreement, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Tuesday, signaling renewed momentum in bilateral economic and strategic ties.
Rubio welcomed Jaishankar at the United States Department of State, ahead of the first Ministerial Conference on Critical Minerals, a key initiative aimed at strengthening cooperation in future-facing sectors.
Officials on both sides indicated that the meeting is expected to further deepen the India–US partnership, particularly in trade, technology, energy security, and strategic cooperation.
Focus on Critical Minerals and Strategic Supply Chains
According to an official statement released by the US State Department, the two leaders discussed formalizing cooperation in the exploration, mining, and processing of critical minerals, including lithium and cobalt—resources essential for clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and emerging technologies.
Both sides emphasized the importance of building resilient and trusted supply chains to support global energy transition goals and industrial growth.
Leaders Welcome Trump–Modi Trade Agreement
During the meeting, Jaishankar and Rubio welcomed the trade agreement reached between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The discussions came a day after President Trump publicly confirmed the deal and announced a reduction in reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 18%, a move expected to boost bilateral trade and investment flows.
Reaffirming Commitment to QUAD and Indo-Pacific Security
At the conclusion of the talks, both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation under the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) framework.
They underscored that a free, open, prosperous, and secure Indo-Pacific region remains central to advancing shared strategic interests.
Jaishankar’s US Visit and High-Level Engagements
Jaishankar is on an official visit to the United States from February 2 to February 4, during which he is participating in the Critical Minerals Ministerial, hosted by Rubio. He is also holding meetings with senior members of the US administration to further strengthen India–US relations, the Ministry of External Affairs said.
Meeting With US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent
In a separate engagement, Jaishankar met Scott Bessent in Washington. Following the meeting, Jaishankar described the interaction as “useful and productive” in a post on social media platform X.
He noted that discussions focused on advancing India–US economic partnership, trade facilitation, and long-term strategic cooperation.
Growing Expectations for Deeper Economic and Strategic Ties
The high-level engagements come at a time when multiple initiatives are underway to strengthen India–US relations. Analysts believe that the latest meetings will further solidify cooperation in trade, investment, technology, energy security, and geopolitics, reinforcing the partnership between the world’s largest and fifth-largest economies.
