Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Feb 5: Highlighting the rapid progress in India–US relations, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday said a “strong momentum” is clearly visible in bilateral engagement, pointing to a landmark trade agreement that is now in its final stages.
Jaishankar made the remarks while wrapping up his February 2–4 visit to the United States, during which he also took part in the Critical Minerals Ministerial convened by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“Concluded a productive and positive visit to the US. Thank Secretary Rubio for his warm hospitality,” the External Affairs Minister said in a post on X.
Referring to the trade agreement announced earlier this week, Jaishankar said the deal is close to completion and is expected to be finalised soon. “The historic India–US trade deal is in the final stages of detailing. It opens a new chapter in our bilateral relationship with immense potential. Cooperation on critical minerals is progressing rapidly, and engagement on strategic issues, defence and energy can be expected in the days ahead,” he said, adding that overall momentum in ties remains strong.
During the visit, Jaishankar held a series of high-level meetings with senior members of the US administration, including separate discussions with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The talks focused on strengthening the India–US strategic and economic partnership.
After meeting Rubio, Jaishankar described the interaction as wide-ranging, covering bilateral cooperation as well as regional and global developments. He said discussions touched upon key pillars of the strategic partnership, including trade, energy, nuclear cooperation, defence, critical minerals, and technology. Both sides, he noted, agreed to move swiftly on follow-up engagements and convene early meetings of various mechanisms to advance shared objectives.
According to a readout from the US State Department, Jaishankar and Rubio discussed formalising cooperation in critical minerals exploration, mining, and processing — an area that has become central to the economic and strategic relationship between the two countries.
The meeting followed the announcement by US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi of a trade agreement aimed at reducing trade barriers and expanding market access between the world’s two largest democracies. Both Rubio and Jaishankar welcomed the deal, underlining its potential to unlock new economic opportunities and strengthen shared energy security goals.
The two leaders also reviewed regional and multilateral cooperation, reaffirming their commitment to expanding collaboration through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue. They agreed that a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region remains crucial to advancing mutual interests.
Earlier in the day, Jaishankar met US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, describing the interaction as constructive. “Had a useful discussion on advancing the India–US economic partnership and strategic cooperation,” he said.
The back-to-back meetings underscored the widening scope of India–US engagement, which now spans diplomacy, security, trade, finance, and emerging technologies. Officials from both sides have stressed the importance of close coordination to translate political intent into tangible outcomes.
In recent years, India and the United States have significantly expanded cooperation in defence, energy, and advanced technologies, while deepening trade and investment ties. Critical minerals and high-end manufacturing have emerged as priority areas, reflecting their importance to clean energy transitions and future industrial growth.
The latest high-level exchanges build on sustained dialogue between New Delhi and Washington on regional and global challenges, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, with both countries viewing the partnership as a cornerstone of their foreign policy strategies.