New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday held a telephonic conversation focused on deepening cooperation across trade, critical minerals, nuclear energy, defence and broader strategic issues, signalling renewed momentum in the India–US partnership.
Dr Jaishankar, in a social media post, described the exchange as a “good conversation” and said the two leaders discussed a wide-ranging agenda, including trade, critical minerals, nuclear cooperation, defence and energy. He added that both sides agreed to remain in close touch on these and other matters in the days ahead.
The U.S. side welcomed India’s recent legislative steps to modernise its civil nuclear framework, with Rubio conveying interest in using this development to expand civil nuclear cooperation, open new opportunities for American companies and advance shared energy security goals. The discussion also reflected a common priority on securing critical mineral supply chains, seen as vital for clean energy, advanced manufacturing and defence technologies.
“Secretary Rubio and Minister Jaishankar discussed ongoing bilateral trade agreement negotiations and their shared interest in strengthening economic cooperation. They also exchanged perspectives on regional developments, reaffirming the United States’ and India’s commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific,” a US Department of State release stated.
Trade talks formed a key part of the exchange, with both leaders reviewing ongoing negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement and expressing interest in strengthening economic ties. The conversation comes amid efforts to manage tariff-related frictions while keeping channels open for a broader reset in commercial engagement.
The call follows recent signals from U.S. officials that further engagement on trade is imminent, indicating that both governments are keen to translate shared priorities into tangible outcomes across energy, technology and security cooperation.
