New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Manila and discussed a range of issues, including trade and tariffs.
Both leaders attended the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in the Philippine capital.
In a post on X, Jaishankar said: “Our meeting focused on areas that are a priority for the 🇮🇳🇺🇸 Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, including trade and tariffs, energy, defence and security, critical minerals, and artificial intelligence.”
He added: “We also exchanged quick perspectives on regional, global, and multilateral issues of mutual interest.”
Their discussion came after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose massive tariffs on imported pharmaceutical products that could affect several Indian companies.
Meanwhile, Jaishankar, along with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, and Rubio, discussed the Indo-Pacific landscape.
In a press release, the External Affairs Ministry said: “As ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partners, we, the Secretary of State of the US and the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India, and Japan, met today in Manila to reaffirm our commitment to strengthening a free and open Indo-Pacific and our unwavering support for ASEAN unity and centrality. We are deeply invested in the region’s success and in cooperating with ASEAN and its member states.”
It added: “We discussed regional challenges and opportunities to strengthen our support for the practical implementation of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific through our shared priorities of maritime and transnational security, economic prosperity and security, critical and emerging technologies, and humanitarian assistance and emergency response. We are united in our conviction that peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific maritime domain underpin the security and prosperity of the region.”
Separately, Jaishankar co-chaired the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference in Manila along with Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Maria Theresa Parreño Lazaro.
During the conference, the top Indian diplomat conveyed “India’s appreciation for the key role of the Philippines as the country coordinator for strengthening the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”
“Agreed that the theme ‘Navigating Our Future, Together’ aptly captures our shared values anchored firmly in mutual trust and cooperation for development, peace, and stability across the Indo-Pacific region. Stressed that the world is increasingly turbulent, with supply chains, energy, food and health security, and maritime cooperation under stress,” Jaishankar said in a detailed post on X.
