New York (TDI): Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio have agreed on the need for continuous engagement to advance cooperation in key areas, following talks in New York on Monday.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, came against the backdrop of fresh strains in bilateral ties after President Donald Trump announced a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visas, a move that has drawn concern in India.
In a post on X, Jaishankar said the two discussed a range of bilateral and international issues and “agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areas.”
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It was their first meeting since Washington imposed additional tariffs on Indian goods over New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil.
Their last encounter was in July during the Quad grouping talks, which also include Japan and Australia.
Analysts note that while trade and immigration disputes have tested relations, defense and security cooperation continue to bind Washington and New Delhi together. Joint military exercises and intelligence-sharing have deepened in recent years, reflecting a broader strategic convergence.
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Observers believe the coming months will show whether India and the United States can insulate their strategic partnership from recurring economic and policy disputes, or whether friction on trade and visas will overshadow their shared priorities in the Indo-Pacific.
