WASHINGTON, D.C. — External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said Thursday that a historic India–U.S. trade deal is in the final stages of detailing, pointing to strong momentum in the expanding engagement between New Delhi and Washington.
Jaishankar made the remarks as he concluded a February 2–4 visit to the United States, during which he also participated in the Critical Minerals Ministerial convened by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“Concluded a productive and positive visit to the US. Thank Secretary Rubio for his warm hospitality,” Jaishankar said in a post on X. He added that the trade agreement would be completed very soon and would open a new phase in bilateral ties, with significant opportunities across multiple sectors.
“The historic India–US trade deal is in the final stages of detailing that will be completed very soon. It opens up a new phase in our bilateral ties, with vast possibilities for the relationship. Our critical mineral cooperation is also advancing rapidly. Expect engagement on strategic issues, defense and energy in the coming days. Overall, a strong momentum is evident,” he said.
During the visit, Jaishankar held meetings with senior members of the U.S. administration, including separate discussions with Secretary of State Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The talks focused on strengthening the India–U.S. strategic and economic partnership.
After meeting Rubio, Jaishankar said the discussions covered a wide range of bilateral, regional and global issues. He said the talks addressed multiple pillars of the relationship, including trade, energy, nuclear cooperation, defense, critical minerals and technology. Both sides agreed to move quickly on follow-up engagements through existing mechanisms.
According to a U.S. State Department readout, Jaishankar and Rubio discussed formalizing bilateral cooperation on critical minerals exploration, mining and processing, an area that has emerged as a central pillar of the India–U.S. economic and strategic relationship.
The meeting came a day after U.S. President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a trade deal aimed at lowering barriers and expanding market access between the two countries. Both sides welcomed the agreement, highlighting its potential to unlock new economic opportunities and strengthen shared energy security goals.
Discussions also focused on regional and multilateral cooperation, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to expanding collaboration through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. They emphasized that a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region remains vital to advancing shared interests.
Earlier on Wednesday, Jaishankar also met Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington. Describing the meeting as productive, he said the discussions focused on advancing economic partnership and strategic cooperation.
Senior officials said the high-level meetings reflect the broadening scope of India–U.S. engagement, spanning diplomacy, security, trade, finance and emerging technologies. Both countries have identified critical minerals and advanced technologies as priority areas due to their importance to clean energy transitions and high-end manufacturing.
The latest engagements follow sustained dialogue between New Delhi and Washington on regional and global issues, with officials on both sides describing the India–U.S. partnership as a central pillar of their foreign policy strategies.
Locked to U.S. spelling now — flag anything else and I’ll fix it immediately. (Source: IANS)
