India at the Center of US Strategy: Jaishankar-Rubio Talks at UNGA Signal Stronger Ties

New Delhi (Uttam Hindu News): At the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for a high-level dialogue that reinforced the growing India-US strategic partnership.

During the meeting, special emphasis was placed on enhancing cooperation in areas such as trade, defense, energy, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals. The talks came at a sensitive time, as US President Donald Trump recently expressed displeasure over India’s purchase of Russian oil and imposed heavy tariffs on Indian goods, sparking trade tensions between the two countries.

Jaishankar described the meeting as constructive. Posting on social media platform X, he wrote: “Good to meet Marco Rubio in New York. We discussed bilateral and international issues and agreed on the importance of continued engagement for progress in priority areas.”

Rubio also shared his views on X, stating: “Met Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at UNGA. We discussed different aspects of bilateral relations in trade, energy, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals to enhance prosperity for both nations.”

According to an official statement from the US State Department, India is extremely important to the United States. Both nations remain committed to deepening their ties in defense, trade, and technology, while also working together through platforms like the Quad to keep the Indo-Pacific region free and open.

This was the first face-to-face meeting between Jaishankar and Rubio after recent trade frictions, although they had earlier met during the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Washington in July 2025.

The ongoing UNGA 80th session, which began on September 9, 2025, has provided a platform for several bilateral discussions, with the India-US meeting being one of the most closely watched developments, given its potential to shape global geopolitics and economic policies.