External Affairs Minister Marco Rubio said during a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar that India has a very important relationship for America. He appreciated the continuous participation of New Delhi on bilateral issues including trade, defense and energy.
He met Jaishankar here on Monday morning on the occasion of the high level week of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The meeting description of the meeting by the Department of State states that Rubio reiterated that “India has a very important relationship for the US” and he expressed appreciation for the continuous participation of the Government of India on many issues including business, defense, energy, pharmaceuticals, important minerals and other issues related to bilateral relations.
The statement said that Rubio and Jaishankar agreed that the US and India would continue to work together to promote independent and open Hind-Pacific region through Quad.
In a post on X, Jaishankar said that it was nice to meet Rubio in New York. He said, “Many bilateral and international issues of current concern were discussed in our conversation. The importance of continuous cooperation for progress in priority areas was agreed. We will remain in touch.”
Rubio said in a post on X that he discussed with Jaishankar “” discussed major areas of our bilateral relations, including trade, energy, pharmaceuticals, and important minerals and other subjects to create prosperity for India and the United States. “
The meeting, which lasted for about an hour, was the first face-to-face conversation between Rubio and Jaishankar, which for the last few months and the tension between the two countries over the purchase of Russian energy by trade, tariffs and New Delhi.
The Trump administration imposed an additional 25 percent tariff on New Delhi for the purchase of Russian oil, causing the total tariff imposed on India by the US to 50 percent, which is the highest in the world.
Just a few days before the meeting, President Donald Trump signed an announcement on the new H1B visa of US $ 1,00,000. The announcement caused widespread anxiety and nervousness among Indian professionals including IT and medical field professionals, the biggest beneficiaries of the H1B skilled-employee program.
Rubio and Jaishankar last held bilateral discussion during the quad foreign ministers’ meeting at Washington DC in July. The bilateral meeting was held on the same day during the high -level week of the United Nations General Assembly, on the day India and the US discussed to complete the trade agreement soon.
A delegation led by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is in New York for a meeting with the US side on 22 September. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry said, “The delegation is planning to carry forward the discussion with the objective of concluding the expeditious conclusions on mutually beneficial trade agreement.”
The two countries hoped that the first installment of the bilateral trade agreement would be completed by October-November 2025. The agreement aims to double bilateral trade from the current $ 191 billion to US $ to reach US $ 500 billion by 2030.
During the previous visit to India on 16 September, “various aspects of the trade agreement were discussed positively, and it was decided to intensify the efforts in this regard.”
On Monday, Jaishankar also held an informal meeting with the Foreign Ministers of the European Union.
He thanked Kaza Kallas, high representative of the European Union’s foreign affairs and security policy, for his hosting. Jaishankar said, “This is an opportunity for the open exchange of ideas on multiplicity, India-European Union partnership, Ukraine struggle, Gaza, energy and business.”
Sergio Gore, nominated for the post of Ambassador of America in India and special messenger for South and Central Asia, also met Jaishankar during the United Nations General Assembly.
The Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs of the State Department said, “They are ready to further the success of the US-India relations.”
Jaishankar arrived in New York on Sunday for high -level UNGA week, where he started her program with a bilateral meeting with Foreign Secretary Theresa P. Lazaro, Foreign Secretary of the Philippines.
The Indian Foreign Minister said in a post on X, “We discussed the recent state visit of the Philippines President Bongbong Marcos to India. He also discussed our cooperation in the United Nations and the Indo-Pacific region.”
Lazaro said that it is a pleasure to meet Jaishankar again after President Bongbong Marcos’ “successful” state visit in August.
He said, “Today’s discussion confirms the commitment of both our countries as a strategic partner to actively develop cooperation in our discussion, political, defense and safety, maritime sector etc.”.
Jaishankar will hold a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings during the week during the high -level UNGA session and on September 27, the prestigious green UNGA will give a national statement in the general debate from the platform.
