Washington: India and the United States have moved to deepen their partnership after finalising a new trade deal. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington for wide ranging talks on nuclear energy, defence, technology and critical minerals.
Both leaders welcomed the trade agreement, which lowers US tariffs on several Indian exports and opens the way for higher trade volumes. They said the deal should help strengthen trust and create space for cooperation in new areas such as clean energy, advanced technology and secure supply chains.
A major focus of the talks was critical minerals used in electric vehicles, semiconductors and defence equipment. The two sides discussed joint work in exploration, mining and processing to reduce dependence on a few global suppliers. They also reviewed nuclear energy cooperation and defence ties as part of a broader push to boost strategic partnership.
The meeting showed that the relationship is moving beyond commerce to cover long term security and economic goals. Officials said both countries want to work closely in the Indo Pacific region and through groupings like the Quad to promote stability and reliable supply chains. The discussions are expected to continue in coming months as teams from both sides work on turning the agreements into action.