External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Manila on Wednesday and discussed trade, tariffs, energy, defence,
critical minerals, and artificial intelligence. The two leaders, Jaishankar and Rubio also exchanged views on the West Asia crisis and its broader impact on global energy supplies and market stability. Both diplomats were in the Philippine capital to participate in high-level discussions under the framework of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Quad grouping. "Our meeting focused on areas which are priority for the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, including trade and tariffs, energy, defence and security, critical minerals and artificial intelligence," Jaishankar posted and said, "we also exchanged quick perspectives on regional, global and multilateral issues of mutual interest." Sharing details of the meeting on X, Jaishankar said, "Pleased to meet Sec Rubio of the USA here in Manila. Our meeting focused on areas which are a priority for the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, including trade & tariffs, energy, defence & security, critical minerals & artificial intelligence." "Also exchanged quick perspectives on regional, global and multilateral issues of mutual interest," he added. Marco Rubio also reaffirmed the QUAD's commitment to the Indo-Pacific and ASEAN. "Was pleased to reconvene the QUAD at the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting to emphasize our message: strong cooperation is vital to supporting ASEAN's own priority and centrality in the region," Rubio posted . "The United States, India, Australia, and Japan share a vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific that is grounded in the rule of law, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. The QUAD remains a priority, and we will meet again later this year," he added. Jaishankar is on a two-day visit to Manila to participate in a series of ministerial meetings under the ASEAN framework, including the ASEAN-India foreign ministers' Meeting, East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers' Meeting and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF).
