News Desk: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Atlanta on Saturday. The two leaders reviewed bilateral cooperation and discussed the progress of relations between India and the United States.
Sharing details of the meeting on social media platform X, Jaishankar said he appreciated Rubio's hospitality in Atlanta and that the two sides had taken stock of their bilateral cooperation. The meeting comes at an important time for India-US relations, particularly as both countries continue discussions on trade, defence and other strategic areas.
Rubio's meeting with Jaishankar follows his three-day official visit to India from October 20 to 22. During the visit, he held discussions with Indian officials, including Jaishankar, on several key issues. One of the major topics was the proposed India-US trade agreement, which both countries are working towards finalising.
During his recent visit, Rubio also sought to reassure India about Washington's relationship with Pakistan. Responding to concerns over the growing US engagement with Islamabad, he said that America's relationship with Pakistan or any other country would never come at the expense of its ties with India.
In an interview with The Indian Express, Rubio said Washington did not view its relationship with India and Pakistan as competing interests. He also pointed to his visits to India, continued diplomatic engagement and the US commitment to a trade agreement as signs of the strong partnership between the two countries.
Earlier, Rubio had indicated that India and the United States were very close to finalising the proposed trade deal, with only a few issues remaining to be resolved. The agreement is expected to be an important part of the broader economic partnership between the two nations.
Apart from his meeting with Rubio, Jaishankar held several other bilateral discussions with foreign ministers and senior representatives attending the G20 meeting.
He met European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, with whom he discussed the ongoing Ukraine conflict and the situation in the Gulf region. He also held talks with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira on bilateral relations and global developments.
His discussions with Mexican Foreign Minister Roberto Velasco Álvarez focused on giving fresh momentum to India-Mexico relations. Jaishankar also met Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand to review the progress of cooperation between the two countries.
In another important meeting, Jaishankar held discussions with Argentine Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno. The talks covered trade, critical minerals, defence and nuclear cooperation, along with wider multilateral issues.
The series of meetings reflects India's continued diplomatic engagement with major global partners. The G20 platform has provided an opportunity for New Delhi to strengthen existing partnerships, discuss international challenges and explore new areas of cooperation.
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