US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in his first bilateral engagement since assuming office on Tuesday, met with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening US-India ties, particularly in the fields of technology, defense, and energy. The US also raised concerns about undocumented Indian immigrants, with India agreeing to facilitate the return of identified individuals verified as Indian nationals.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department. (Photo: X/@DrSJaishankar)
The meeting followed their participation in a Quad foreign ministers' dialogue alongside their Australian and Japanese counterparts. During the Quad discussions, the ministers pledged to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, a vision reiterated in the subsequent bilateral talks.
Expressing his enthusiasm, Jaishankar said he was “delighted” to meet Rubio for his first bilateral engagement as Secretary of State. He noted that they had conducted a comprehensive review of the US-India partnership and praised Rubio for being a “strong advocate” of the relationship. As a senator, Rubio had championed legislation that supported deeper strategic cooperation between the two nations and recognized India’s stance in disputes with China and Pakistan.
Despite the cordial atmosphere and positive tone of the discussions, Rubio addressed the issue of “irregular immigration,” as described by the State Department. Reports estimate that over 700,000 Indians currently reside in the US without proper documentation.
Inquired about during a press conference at the Indian embassy in Washington DC on Wednesday, this marked India's most definitive stance on the issue to date. Jaishankar said, “We had a discussion on a range of issues including mobility of people. We have a position on mobility which is a principled position. We are supportive of legal mobility because we believe in a global workplace and want Indian skills and talent to have opportunity. We are firmly opposed to illegal immigration. Many other illegal activities get joined to it. It is not desirable and it is not reputationally good. If there are any of our citizens who are not here legally and we are sure they are our citizens, we have been open to their legitimate return to India.”
The minister mentioned that India has maintained a principled and consistent stance, which has been communicated to the US. He also pointed out to Rubio that it is in their best interest to “facilitate legal and mutually beneficial immigration,” specifically addressing the visa delays from the US, which have impacted people-to-people relations.
Additionally, Jaishankar met with Michael Waltz, President Donald Trump’s National Security Advisor, at the White House on Tuesday, marking their second meeting in just over three weeks. “Discussed strengthening our friendship to ensure mutual benefit and enhance global stability and prosperity. Looking forward to working together on an active and outcome oriented agenda,” the minister stated on X following the meeting.
Strengthening Ties in Technology, Defense, and Energy
In her statement regarding Rubio's meeting with Jaishankar, the new State Department spokesperson, Tammy Bruce, stated that the two "reinforced their mutual commitment to further enhancing the US-India partnership."
“They discussed a wide range of topics, including regional issues and opportunities to further deepen the US-India relationship, in particular on critical and emerging technologies, defense cooperation, energy, and on advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region,” Bruce said.
In US-India diplomatic statements, terms like "regional issues" and "free and open Indo-Pacific" often serve as indirect references to discussions about China’s actions.
During Donald Trump’s first term, the US elevated its technology ties with India, but real progress occurred under Joe Biden with the launch of the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technologies (iCET), which is overseen by the National Security Advisors of both countries. While there has been some speculation about the future of this mechanism, the ministers' signals indicate that iCET-related issues, along with regular bilateral defense cooperation, will remain important areas of collaboration.
Regarding energy, India increased its gas purchases from the US during Trump’s first term, and there’s potential for a similar move now, signaling India’s intent to reduce the trade deficit and support the US economy. The two nations have also been deeply engaged in discussions on nuclear energy, with the Biden administration lifting restrictions on three Indian nuclear entities, India expressing a willingness to reconsider its nuclear liability framework, and small modular reactors emerging as a promising new frontier in the sector.
Trade & Immigration
The State Department also highlighted two additional issues, assigning them to Rubio instead of both leaders, which emphasized the priority they held for the US side. “Secretary Rubio also emphasized the Trump Administration’s desire to work with India to advance economic ties and address concerns related to irregular migration.”
The framing of economic ties remains open-ended, set against a backdrop of trade tensions, particularly with tariffs being a key focus of Trump's agenda, along with investment-related concerns. The president's executive order on trade allows room for departments to explore trade deals, and Rubio’s more optimistic and forward-looking approach seems to suggest potential for progress.
When HT inquired about the nature of the economic discussions during the press conference, Jaishankar confirmed there was a conversation on the economy with both Rubio and Trump's national security advisor, Mike Waltz. However, details were limited as this was the first day of the administration.
Jaishankar conveyed that the message he received emphasized the US’s recognition of India as a valued partner and its desire to collaborate on broader and more systemic issues. The minister mentioned that they did not delve into trade specifics, as that would be handled by trade teams at the appropriate time. But he added, “For me, the deeper sentiment was that you have your interests, we have ours, we have to harmonise it, and we are very confident we can do it. I didn’t get to a sense of it being a zero sum game. There was a lot of attention on iCET (initiative on critical and emerging technologies), semiconductors and supply chains than the other issue,” he said.
Regarding illegal immigration, which the State Department referred to as irregular migration, contrasting with the terminology used by the Republican political establishment, the tone remained not accusatory but instead reflected a desire for collaboration.
When the two leaders appeared for a photo on the seventh floor of the State Department building, standing in front of the flags of India and the US, Rubio and Jaishankar did not take questions. However, the timing of the meeting, the nuances of the statement, and subsequent comments from ministers suggest that US-India relations are poised to strengthen, even as both nations navigate more sensitive issues with discretion.
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