WASHINGTON, U.S. — External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has arrived in the United States for a three-day official visit and is scheduled to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Tuesday, with discussions expected to focus on cooperation in critical minerals and broader strategic issues.
The meeting follows a phone call between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi a day earlier, after which the U.S. president announced a trade deal with India. The announcement has added momentum to high-level engagements between New Delhi and Washington.
Jaishankar’s visit, from February 2 to February 4, includes participation in the Critical Minerals Ministerial convened by Rubio, according to an official announcement. The ministerial is expected to bring together partner countries to discuss supply chain resilience and strategic cooperation.
After arriving in New York, the External Affairs Minister is scheduled to travel to Washington during the visit. He is expected to hold bilateral talks with Rubio on Tuesday, followed by participation in the ministerial on Wednesday. U.S. Vice President JD Vance is expected to address the conference.
The bilateral talks are expected to cover a wide range of regional and global issues, including developments related to the war in Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, along with economic and strategic cooperation between the two countries.
In a post on X, Jaishankar welcomed the announcements on bilateral trade following the conversation between Modi and Trump.
“This will create more jobs, spur growth and promote innovation in both economies. It will strengthen ‘Make in India’ endeavors and encourage trusted technology ties. The opportunities in our economic engagement are truly vast and we are confident of realizing them,” he said.
“A robust economic relationship is the strongest foundation for our strategic partnership,” the External Affairs Minister added.
On Wednesday, Jaishankar is set to attend the Critical Minerals Ministerial, which will focus on supply chain resilience, clean energy transitions, and strategic cooperation in the critical minerals sector. These materials are considered essential for advanced manufacturing, clean energy technologies, and emerging industries.
In addition to the ministerial, Jaishankar is expected to meet senior members of the U.S. administration, though details of those meetings were not disclosed.
India and the United States have increased engagement in recent years on issues related to economic security, with critical minerals emerging as a central element of bilateral dialogue as both countries seek to ensure reliable and diversified supply chains.
The U.S. State Department said on February 4 that the United States will welcome delegations to advance collective efforts to strengthen and diversify critical minerals supply chains.
“This historic gathering will create momentum for collaboration to secure these critical components vital to technological innovation, economic strength, and national security,” the State Department said.
Jaishankar’s Washington engagements form part of ongoing high-level exchanges between New Delhi and Washington, with the two sides maintaining frequent dialogue on diplomacy, trade, technology, and security. (Source: IANS)
