New York: External Affairs Minister Subramanyam Jaishankar is scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York later today at 11:00 am EDT (8:30 pm IST), according to the public schedule released by the US State Department. The meeting will take place on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, where Jaishankar is set for a series of bilateral discussions with global counterparts.
The talks carry added significance as they come at a time of friction in trade ties. Washington recently imposed steep duties, including a 50% tariff on key Indian exports, citing India’s energy trade with Russia. New Delhi has rejected the move but maintained that trade talks remain “positive” and “forward-looking,” signaling potential space for compromise. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is also in the US, leading a trade delegation as negotiations continue on a long-pending Bilateral Trade Agreement aimed at expanding market access and stabilizing economic relations.
Apart from trade, Jaishankar and Rubio are expected to discuss strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, including maritime security, defence, and wider global security challenges. Both countries have repeatedly underlined their shared commitment to ensuring a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific.