S Jaishankar, Marco Rubio Hold Wide-Ranging Talks After India-US Trade Deal Announcement

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said he held a “wide-ranging conversation” with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, covering bilateral, regional and global issues.

“Delighted to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio this afternoon,” Jaishankar wrote in a post on X after the meeting.

He said discussions focused on multiple facets of the India-US strategic partnership, including trade, energy, nuclear cooperation, defence, critical minerals and technology.

“A wide-ranging conversation that covered our bilateral cooperation agenda, regional and global issues,” Jaishankar said.

Delighted to meet US @SecRubio this afternoon.

A wide ranging conversation that covered our bilateral cooperation agenda, regional and global issues.

Facets of India – US Strategic Partnership discussed included trade, energy, nuclear, defence, critical minerals and… pic.twitter.com/1rbXJHgEQY

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 3, 2026

The minister added that both sides agreed on holding early meetings of various bilateral mechanisms to advance shared interests.

“Agreed on the early meetings of various mechanisms to advance our shared interests,” he said.

The meeting is also part of the External Affair Minister’s ongoing three-day visit to the US and comes a day after the announcement of the India-US trade deal under which Washington has agreed to lower tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent.

The United States is set to host the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial on Wednesday (local time) in Washington DC, bringing together delegations from over 50 countries to advance collaboration on securing and diversifying global critical mineral supply chains, according to a prior notice issued by the Office of the Spokesperson of the US State Department.

Rubio will chair the ministerial, with delegations from more than 50 nations expected to participate.

Jaishankar’s visit also comes on the backdrop of the India-US trade deal, announced on Monday following a telephone discussion between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, under which Washington has agreed to lower reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent from 25 per cent, effective immediately.

Earlier, the EAM met with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, during which both leaders discussed advancing the India-US economic partnership and strengthening strategic cooperation between the two countries.

‘Welcomed Trade Deal’

The handout released by the US State Department said Rubio met EAM and discussed strengthening cooperation across a range of strategic areas. It said that the two leaders focused on formalising bilateral collaboration in critical minerals, including exploration, mining and processing, according to the statement.

“Secretary Rubio and Minister Jaishankar welcomed the trade deal reached between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi,” the handout said.

It also added that both sides emphasised the importance of the United States and India, as leading democracies, working together to unlock new economic opportunities and advance shared energy security goals.

The statement said Rubio and Jaishankar also reiterated their commitment to expanding cooperation through the Quad grouping.

“Secretary Rubio and Minister Jaishankar concluded their meeting by expressing their commitment to expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation through the Quad,” it said.

The two leaders acknowledged that “a prosperous Indo-Pacific region remains vital to advancing our shared interests,” the handout added.