Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 2: External affairs minister S. Jaishankar is set to begin a three-day official visit to the United States starting Monday, during which he will participate in the Critical Minerals Ministerial convened by US secretary of state Marco Rubio, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced.

According to the MEA, the ministerial meeting will focus on strengthening supply chain resilience, advancing clean energy transitions, and enhancing strategic cooperation in the critical minerals sector—an area of growing importance for both countries.

During his visit from February 2 to 4, EAM Jaishankar is also scheduled to hold a series of meetings with senior members of the US administration to discuss key bilateral and regional issues.

The visit follows a series of high-level engagements between Indian and US officials. Last week, Jaishankar met US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor in New Delhi, where the two discussed various aspects of the India–US partnership. Welcoming the ambassador, Jaishankar expressed confidence in Gor’s role in further strengthening bilateral ties.

“Pleased to meet US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor today in New Delhi. Our conversation covered the many dimensions of our partnership. Welcomed him and expressed confidence that he would contribute to the strengthening of India–US relations,” Jaishankar posted on X.

On January 25, the External Affairs Minister also met a US Congressional delegation that included Mike Rogers, Adam Smith, and Jimmy Patronis, along with Ambassador Gor. Discussions during the meeting focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation, developments in the Indo-Pacific region, and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Reflecting on the engagement, Jaishankar noted on X that interactions with the US Congress have long been a vital component of the bilateral relationship.

Earlier, on January 13, US secretary of state Marco Rubio held a telephone conversation with Jaishankar, during which the two reviewed major areas of cooperation such as civil nuclear energy, trade negotiations, and regional security in the Indo-Pacific. Ambassador Gor later described the conversation as positive, noting that the leaders discussed next steps in bilateral trade talks, cooperation on critical minerals, and the possibility of a meeting in the coming month.