In Washington DC today, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held his first meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, during which the issue of “irregular immigration” was a prominent topic of discussion.
According to a readout provided by State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce, Rubio underscored the Trump administration’s commitment to working collaboratively with India to address this concern. “Rubio emphasised the Trump administration’s desire to work with India to advance economic ties and address concerns related to irregular migration,” Bruce stated.
The two leaders reaffirmed their shared dedication to strengthening the India-US partnership, Bruce added. They explored an array of topics, including regional matters and avenues to further enhance collaboration between the two countries in areas such as critical and emerging technologies, defence cooperation, energy security, and promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
After the meeting, Jaishankar shared his thoughts on the discussions through a post on X. He expressed his satisfaction at meeting Rubio for their first bilateral engagement since Rubio assumed office as Secretary of State. “Reviewed our extensive bilateral partnership, of which Rubio has been a strong advocate. Also exchanged views on a wide range of regional and global issues. Look forward to closely working with him to advance our strategic cooperation,” Jaishankar wrote.
Jaishankar is currently in Washington DC on the invitation of the US government to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Donald Trump, who was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States on Monday.
In addition to his bilateral talks with Jaishankar, Rubio also engaged in discussions with the foreign ministers of Australia and Japan—Penny Wong and Takeshi Iwaya, respectively. Following these discussions, the four nations issued a joint statement committing to regular meetings among their officials to prepare for an upcoming leaders’ summit, which is expected to take place in India later this year.
This meeting underscores the ongoing efforts to deepen the India-US strategic relationship while addressing global and regional challenges collaboratively.