Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Feb 4: Just days after President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a breakthrough trade agreement, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar began a high-profile visit to the United States on February 3, signalling that the India-US economic partnership is entering a new phase — with critical minerals now firmly in focus.
Jaishankar, on a three-day US visit from February 2 to 4, held back-to-back meetings with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as New Delhi and Washington moved to deepen cooperation across trade, energy, nuclear power, defence, technology and supply chain security.
His visit comes a day after Trump announced a major trade deal with India following talks with Modi, cutting reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods from 25 per cent to 18 per cent with immediate effect — a move widely seen as a boost for Indian exporters, particularly in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and renewable energy.
Officials in both capitals are viewing the agreement as a foundation for expanding market access and reducing regulatory hurdles, with Jaishankar linking the deal to domestic priorities such as job creation, industrial growth and the government’s “Make in India” programme.
Jaishankar began his engagements by meeting Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, with officials describing the talks as crucial to translating the political agreement into workable policy.
The discussions were seen as a vital step in “papering” the details of the trade breakthrough announced earlier this week.
Posting on X after the meeting, Jaishankar said he had a “useful discussion” on advancing economic partnership and strategic cooperation. Officials said the meeting focused on trade facilitation, market access and regulatory coordination, with an emphasis on ensuring smooth implementation of the new agreement.
Later in the day, Jaishankar met Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with both sides placing strong emphasis on critical minerals and long-term strategic cooperation.
In a formal readout issued on February 3, the State Department said:
“Secretary Marco Rubio met today with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. The Secretary and External Affairs Minister discussed formalising bilateral cooperation on critical minerals exploration, mining, and processing.”
The statement added that both leaders welcomed the trade deal reached between Trump and Modi, and emphasised the importance of the two democracies working together to unlock new economic opportunities and advance shared energy security goals.
Both sides also reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation through the Quad, agreeing that a prosperous Indo-Pacific region remains vital to advancing shared interests.
Jaishankar said the talks covered bilateral ties, regional and global issues, and multiple pillars of the India-US partnership, including trade, energy, nuclear cooperation, defence, critical minerals and technology. He added that both sides agreed on early meetings of institutional mechanisms to push forward shared priorities.
Rubio, in his post, said the discussions focused on critical minerals cooperation and “unlocking new economic opportunities”, and welcomed the trade agreement as a significant step forward.
The growing emphasis on critical minerals reflects strategic concerns in both capitals over dependence on limited suppliers, particularly China.
The State Department has said Rubio intends to mobilise international partners to strengthen supply chains for minerals essential to defence manufacturing, advanced technology and clean energy transitions.
The United States is hosting its first Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington DC on Wednesday, bringing together officials from more than 50 countries to improve coordination and diversify supply chains. Jaishankar is scheduled to participate as part of his visit.
US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has said around 30 countries are keen to join a proposed coalition aimed at reducing dependence on China for mineral supplies, with at least 20 more expressing strong interest.
Officials on both sides see Jaishankar’s Washington visit as signalling a broadening of the India-US partnership beyond traditional trade and defence.
Alongside economic integration, discussions covered energy cooperation, nuclear collaboration, technology development and regional security.
By pairing the trade deal with a push on critical minerals, New Delhi and Washington are seeking to align commercial interests with long-term strategic goals, reinforcing the partnership as both an economic and geopolitical anchor in the Indo-Pacific.