‘India Of Critical Importance To US’: Washington As Rubio, S Jaishankar Hold Talks At UNGA

Last Updated:September 23, 2025, 07:50 is

A US release stated India as of ‘critical importance’ to Washington after Marco Rubio and EAM Jaishankar met at the UNGA sidelines to discuss trade, energy, defence.

EAM S Jaishankar with Marco Rubio (Photo: X/@SecRubio)

Soon after Secretary of State Marco Rubio met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly High-level Week, the former stated that the meeting focused on various aspects of the bilateral partnership.

Later, the US Department of State, in an official release, reaffirmed India’s “critical importance” to the United States and welcomed India’s continued engagement on core sectors of mutual interest.

In an X post, Rubio stated that the meeting focused on various aspects of the bilateral partnership aimed at “enhancing prosperity for both nations.”

“Met with Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at UNGA. We discussed key areas of our bilateral relationship, including trade, energy, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals and more to generate prosperity for India and the United States,” Rubio posted on X.

Meanwhile, the US Department of State’s release mentioned, “Secretary Rubio, reiterating that India is a relationship of critical importance to the United States, expressed his appreciation for the Indian government’s continued engagement on a number of issues, including trade, defence, energy, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, and other items related to the bilateral relationship.”

“Secretary Rubio and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar agreed that the United States and India will continue working together to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region, including through the Quad,” the statement added.

EAM JAISHANKAR, US STATE SECRETARY RUBIO HOLD TALKS

Jaishankar met Rubio in New York on Monday and discussed a range of bilateral and international issues of “current concern”.

The meeting at Lotte New York Palace on the sidelines of the 80th session of the UN General Assembly was the first face-to-face interaction between them following US President Donald Trump’s imposition of an additional 25 per cent tariff on India for Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil, taking the total levies imposed on India to 50 per cent.

“Good to meet @SecRubio this morning in New York. Our conversation covered a range of bilateral and international issues of current concern. Agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areas. We will remain in touch,” Jaishankar posted on social media.

They had last met in July in Washington, DC, for the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

Jaishankar, who arrived in New York on Sunday for the high-level UNGA week, also held a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings on the sidelines of the session.

And a sarothra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

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