Jaishankar, Rubio hold talks as India-US trade deal nears finalisation

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday held delegation-level talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, marking a key engagement in the ongoing high-level diplomatic dialogue between India and the US. 

The talks come as both countries move closer to finalising an interim trade agreement, with Jaishankar saying that an American delegation would soon visit India to work on the final text of the proposed deal. 

Addressing the meeting, Jaishankar described the India-US relationship as a broad and influential partnership with shared interests across regions. “We have a comprehensive global strategic partnership,” Jaishankar said. “In plain language, it means that we have very deep, broad-based cooperation and a relationship that impacts and influences other regions and the world.” 

Defence Partnership Framework Agreement renewed 

Later, jointly addressing the media after the talks, Jaishankar announced that India and the US had renewed their 10-year major Defence Partnership Framework Agreement. 

“The 10-year major Defence Partnership Framework Agreement was recently renewed,” he said, adding that both sides had also signed a comprehensive underwater domain awareness road map. 

Energy security talks take centre stage  

Energy security also figured prominently in the discussions, Jaishankar said. “We spent some time today discussing energy issues, and you are aware that our government’s fundamental responsibility is to address the needs of 1.4 billion people, particularly ensuring the accessibility and affordability of energy,” he said. “Secretary Rubio and I therefore welcome the expansion in our energy trade in recent months.” 

The meeting was attended by senior officials from both sides. Jaishankar was accompanied by Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and other senior officials while Rubio was joined by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor and members of the visiting American delegation. 

During his first official visit to India, Rubio also invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit the White House on behalf of US President Donald Trump. “Secretary Marco Rubio extended an invite on behalf of President Donald Trump for Prime Minister Modi to visit the White House in the near future,” Sergio Gor said in a post on X. 

Rubio’s visit comes amid efforts by both countries to stabilise bilateral ties following months of friction over trade tariffs, immigration issues including H-1B visas, Operation Sindoor, and the ongoing crisis in West Asia, which has heightened concerns over India’s energy security.