India-US Ties Is Of Critical Importance...: Rubio Says On Meeting Jaishankar Amid Tariff Row, H1-B Turmoil

(MENAFN- Live Mint) Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State, on Monday stressed the importance of Washington's partnership with New Delhi while meeting Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. He also two countries would "continue working together to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region, including through the Quad."

The US and India ties have been strained by trade frictions, but had looked to be picking up again until Trump's visa announcement on Friday - a move that has hit Indian technology companies hard.

What Rubio said?

"Secretary Rubio, reiterating that India is a relationship of critical importance to the United States, expressed his appreciation for the Indian government's continued engagement on a number of issues including trade, defense, energy, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, and other items related to the bilateral relationship," it said in a statement.

He later posted on X, We discussed key areas of our bilateral relationship, including trade, energy, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals and more to generate prosperity for India and the United States.

What Jaishankar said?

Jaishankar earlier said he and Rubio agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to make progress in priority areas.

"Good to meet @SecRubio this morning in New York. 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. We will remain in touch," Jaishankar said on social media.

Monday's was the first meeting between Rubio and Jaishankar since Trump imposed extra tariffs on India over its purchases of Russian oil. They last met in July at a meeting of the Quad grouping, which brings the two countries together with Japan and Australia which share their concerns about China's growing power.

Jaishankar, who arrived in New York on Sunday for the high-level UNGA week, will hold a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings on the sidelines of the session and will deliver the national statement at the General Debate on September 27 from the iconic green UNGA podium.

(With agency inputs)

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