Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, who is in Washington, met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to discuss formalizing bilateral collaboration in vital minerals discovery, mining, and processing. According to Jaishankar, the conversations covered a wide range of aspects of the India-US strategic partnership, including commerce, energy, nuclear, defense, vital minerals and technology.
In a post on X, the Foreign Minister stated that both leaders committed to early meetings of various mechanisms to further our mutual interests.
According to Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott, Rubio and Jaishankar praised President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s India-US trade agreement.
“The two leaders emphasised the importance of our democracies working together to unlock new economic opportunities and advance our shared energy security goals,” stated the statement.Secretary Rubio and Minister Jaishankar closed their meeting by emphasizing their desire to further bilateral and multilateral collaboration through the Quad. They acknowledged that a vibrant Indo-Pacific region is still critical to furthering our common objectives,” the statement continued.
The meeting between Jaishankar and Rubio comes a day after Trump revealed on Truth Social that India and the United States had reached a trade agreement under which Washington would reduce its reciprocal tariff on Delhi from 25% to 18%.
Jaishankar is visiting the United States from February 2 to 4 and will attend the Critical Minerals Ministerial, which Rubio will convene on Wednesday.
Delighted to meet US @SecRubio this afternoon.
A wide ranging conversation that covered our bilateral cooperation agenda, regional and global issues.
Facets of India – US Strategic Partnership discussed included trade, energy, nuclear, defence, critical minerals and… pic.twitter.com/1rbXJHgEQY
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 3, 2026
During his visit, Jaishankar will meet with senior members of the US government, according to the Foreign Ministry.
What the Jaishankar-Rubio meeting indicates about India and US priorities
Following his discussion with Rubio, EAM presented it to X, stating that it encompassed bilateral cooperation as well as regional and global challenges.
“It was a pleasure to meet with Secretary Rubio this afternoon. “A broad discussion that covered our bilateral cooperation agenda, regional and global issues,” Jaishankar wrote on X following the meeting.
According to a readout issued by US State Department principal deputy spokesperson Tommy Pigott, the two leaders discussed formalising cooperation on critical minerals in exploration, mining, and processing, as well as the importance of closer economic and energy collaboration between the two democracies.
“The secretary and external affairs minister talked about formalizing bilateral collaboration on vital minerals discovery, mining, and processing. “Secretary Rubio and Minister Jaishankar welcomed the trade agreement reached by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi,” the report said.
Meanwhile, the United States will host the inaugural critical minerals ministerial in Washington, bringing together delegations from more than 50 countries to deepen cooperation on securing and diversifying global critical mineral supply chains, according to a notice previously issued by the US State Department’s office.
Before the ministerial, the Rubio-led US State Department will bring together partners from around the world to deepen coordination on important mineral supply chains. The meeting will be chaired by Rubio, with delegations from more than 50 countries set to attend.
The ministerial, described as a historic endeavor, intends to generate collective impetus for collaboration in obtaining essential minerals that are critical to technological innovation, economic prosperity, and national security.
The event will begin with speeches by US Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Rubio, and other senior US officials.
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