NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on Monday in their first in-person meeting since Washington imposed steep tariffs on key Indian exports over New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil.
Following the meeting, Jaishankar posted on X that both sides "agreed on the importance of sustained engagement" on "priority areas", signaling a mutual intent to keep dialogue open amid rising trade and geopolitical tensions.
“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,” Jaishankar said.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and comes as India-US trade talks resume in Washington, led by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. These negotiations follow a shift in tone from President Donald Trump, who recently indicated his administration was working to resolve key trade irritants with India, which still remains a work in progress.
Sources said the Jaishankar–Rubio discussion covered a wide range of bilateral and global issues, including economic cooperation, energy security, and regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.
While the two had previously met during the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meetings in January and July, this was their first standalone bilateral engagement after the trade tariff decision that has strained ties.
Washington’s hardline stance on trade, coupled with criticism of India's energy ties with Russia, has complicated the diplomatic equation. New Delhi, however, maintains that its energy policy is guided by national interest and market conditions.
The New York talks are seen as a crucial step in stabilising the broader India–US strategic partnership, which remains strong on defence, technology, and Indo-Pacific coordination but faces friction on trade sanctions-related and visa issues.