Just days after President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi sealed a breakthrough trade agreement, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar began a high-profile visit to the United States on February 3 with a clear message: the economic partnership between the two democracies is entering a new phase, with critical minerals now firmly on the agenda.
Jaishankar, who is in the US 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 in 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.
The tariff reduction has been widely seen as a boost for Indian exporters, especially in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and renewable energy.
Officials in Washington and New Delhi view the agreement as a foundation for expanding market access and reducing regulatory hurdles.
Jaishankar has linked the deal to domestic priorities, including job creation and industrial growth, and has described it as a key pillar of the government’s “Make in India” programme.
He has argued that stronger trade ties will reinforce India’s manufacturing base and support innovation-led growth.
Jaishankar began his engagements by meeting Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, with officials describing the discussions as crucial to turning the political agreement into workable policy.
The talks were seen as a vital step in “papering” the details of the trade breakthrough announced on Sunday.
Posting on X after the meeting, Jaishankar wrote that 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.
The engagement with the Treasury Department is being viewed as key to translating high-level commitments into concrete economic outcomes.
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, “Secretary Rubio and Minister Jaishankar welcomed the trade deal reached between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi. The two leaders emphasised the importance of our democracies working together to unlock new economic opportunities and advance our shared energy security goals.”
Both leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation through the Quad and agreed that “a prosperous Indo-Pacific region remains vital to advancing our shared interests.”
In his own social media post, 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 said 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 in the ministerial as part of his visit.
US Interior Secretary Doug Burgum recently said that 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.
The discussions covered energy cooperation, nuclear collaboration, technology development and regional security, alongside economic integration.
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.
Source: ANI