This is the first in-person meeting between Jaishankar and Rubio since the US imposed a steep 50% tariff on Indian goods over its purchase of Russian oil.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday held bilateral talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly (UNGA) session.
In a post on X, Jaishankar said that both leaders discussed a range of bilateral and international issues of current concern. He said that both sides agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areas.
“Good to meet @SecRubio this morning in New York. Our conversation covered a range of bilateral and international issues of current concern. Agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areas. We will remain in touch,” EAM Jaishankar said.
Good to meet @SecRubio this morning in New York.
Our conversation covered a range of bilateral and international issues of current concern. Agreed on the importance of sustained engagement to progress on priority areas.
We will remain in touch.
🇮🇳 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/q31vCxaWel
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 22, 2025
Ahead of the meeting, Jaishankar and Rubio were seen shaking hands and posing for a photograph.
#WATCH | New York: External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar meets US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly (UNGA) session. pic.twitter.com/BPoTm5Udfi
— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2025
First Meeting After Tariff Move
The meeting at Lotte New York Palace is the first in-person meeting between Jaishankar and Rubio since the US imposed an additional 25% tariff on India for New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil, taking the total levies imposed on India to 50%.
However, both leaders met twice earlier this year. The two first met in January during the QUAD Foreign Ministers’ meeting in Washington, just days after Rubio took office, and again in July at a second QUAD gathering.
Trade Deal Negotiations
The bilateral talks also coincide with ongoing India–US trade negotiations in Washington, where Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is leading the Indian side. The trade negotiations resumed after US President Donald Trump marked a shift in tone and announced that his team was continuing negotiations to address trade barriers with New Delhi.
Amid the tariff row, India and the US have virtually engaged on a weekly basis on trade, ministerial, and diplomatic levels. Five rounds of negotiations for the India-US bilateral trade agreement (BTA) have been held, and the sixth round of talks – scheduled from August 25 to 29 – was rescheduled following the imposition of 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods by the US.
According to a release from the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, “positive discussions were held” during the September 16 visit of officials from the Office of the United States Trade Representative to India.
Earlier this month, Trump expressed confidence that the two sides would have “no difficulty” in reaching a deal. In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Modi’s leadership and thanked him for supporting peace efforts in Ukraine. Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded that the discussions would help “unlock the limitless potential of the India–US partnership.”
The US President further praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a birthday message, calling him a “friend” and lauding his leadership as “tremendous.”
Trump also thanked PM Modi for backing his efforts to end the Russia–Ukraine war, adding, “Narendra: Thank you for your support on ending the War between Russia and Ukraine!”
Though the agenda of the Jaishankar–Rubio talks was not in public, the discussion also assumed importance as it comes just days after Trump signed a proclamation imposing a new annual USD 100,000 application fee for H-1B visas — a move expected to hit Indian workers hardest, as they make up the majority of recipients.
Jaishankar arrived in New York on Sunday for the UN General Assembly session this week, commencing his engagements with a bilateral meeting with the Philippines Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Theresa P Lazaro.
