India’s External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, met US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, during his Washington visit to discuss the newly-approved bilateral trade agreement between India and the US, and furthering cooperation on critical minerals exploration and mining.
Rubio held bilateral discussions with Jaishankar at the State Department on Tuesday, ahead of the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial meeting being convened by the US on Wednesday.
“Welcoming” the trade deal, Jaishankar said there was a wide-ranging conversation between the two which included talk of strengthening cooperation in energy, nuclear power, defence, technology, and critical minerals.
“Delighted to meet US @SecRubio this afternoon. A wide ranging conversation that covered our bilateral cooperation agenda, regional and global issues,” the EAM posted on X after the meeting.
“Facets of India-US Strategic Partnership discussed included trade, energy, nuclear, defence, critical minerals and technology. Agreed on the early meetings of various mechanisms to advance our shared interests,” he wrote further.
State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson, Tommy Pigott, also provided a readout of the bilateral meeting, which said that Rubio and Jaishankar “welcomed the trade deal reached between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi”.
“The two leaders emphasised the importance of our democracies working together to unlock new economic opportunities and advance our shared energy security goals”, it said, and added that Rubio and Jaishankar “discussed formalising bilateral cooperation on critical minerals exploration, mining and processing.”
The two “concluded their meeting by expressing their commitment to expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation through the Quad. They acknowledged that a prosperous Indo-Pacific region remains vital to advancing our shared interests,” the readout said, referring to the four-nation grouping of Australia, India, Japan and the US.
Also Read: India-US trade deal will strengthen ‘Make in India’ ventures: EAM
Rubio also took to X to say that his meeting with Jaishankar comprised “commending” the trade deal between the United States and India and “discussing bilateral cooperation on critical minerals exploration and work together to unlock new economic opportunities between our two countries”.
Jaishankar is on a visit to the United States from February 2-4 and will next participate in the Critical Minerals Ministerial being convened by Rubio. During the visit, he will also hold meetings with senior members of the US administration, the Ministry of External Affairs said.
On late Monday night, Trump announced the breakthrough in the trade deal agreement reached between India and the US, saying in a post on Truth Social that under the deal, Washington will bring down reciprocal tariff on India-made goods from 25 to 18 per cent, while India will offer zero tariffs to American products.
At the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial, the US will welcome delegations to advance collective efforts to strengthen and diversify critical minerals supply chains. US Vice President J D Vance, Rubio, Special Assistant to the President of the United States and Senior Director for Global Supply Chains David Copley, and Under Secretary of State for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg will deliver opening remarks at the ministerial.
“This historic gathering will create momentum for collaboration to secure these critical components vital to technological innovation, economic strength, and national security,” the State Department has said.
Follow us
