New Delhi: The new Donald Trump administration has reached out to India for deepening bilateral relations, particularly with respect to critical and emerging technologies, defence cooperation, energy, and advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
However, it has also emphasised the need to boost economic ties and address concerns related to irregular migration.
The issues came up for discussion during the bilateral meeting between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and the new US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This was Rubio’s first bilateral meeting and was held soon after the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Washington.
According to a statement by the US Department of State, both sides affirmed a shared commitment to continuing to strengthen the partnership between the United States and India.
They discussed a wide range of topics, including regional issues and opportunities to further deepen the US-India relationship, it said. “Secretary Rubio also emphasised the Trump administration’s desire to work with India to advance economic ties and address concerns related to irregular migration.”
According to Pew Research Center, Indians make up the third largest group of undocumented immigrants in the US at about 7.25 lakh. It is reported that about 18,000 Indians are set to be deported over the next few weeks.
Incidentally, India’s benchmark indexes traded lower Tuesday as caution prevailed after Trump announced plans to impose trade tariffs on US’ neighbouring countries within hours of taking office.
Trump has previously called New Delhi a “big abuser of tariffs” and this is expected to be an irritant in the overall bilateral ties.
On his part, Jaishankar stressed that he was delighted to meet Rubio for his first bilateral meeting after assuming office as Secretary of State. The Indian minister said that the two reviewed the extensive bilateral partnership, of which Rubio has been a strong advocate.
“Also exchanged views on a wide range of regional and global issues. Look forward to closely working with him to advance our strategic cooperation,” he said.
Jaishankar also met with the new US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and said that he looked forward to “working together on an active and outcome oriented agenda”.
It is expected that while there may be tariff issues, the overall relations between India and the US are set to deepen under the new Trump administration.
Jaishankar was seated in the front row at Trump’s oath-taking ceremony even as the other Quad foreign ministers were seated two rows behind.
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