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New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio over the phone, with the two leaders reviewing key aspects of the India–US partnership.
The discussion covered a wide range of areas, including trade, critical minerals, nuclear cooperation, defence and energy. Both sides underlined the need for continued engagement to move forward on bilateral priorities as well as broader international issues.
“Just concluded a good conversation with @SecRubio. Discussed trade, critical minerals, nuclear cooperation, defence and energy. Agreed to remain in touch on these and other issues," Jaishankar said in a post on X.
The telephonic conversation came a day after the new US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, formally assumed charge in New Delhi on Monday, adding momentum to diplomatic engagement between the two sides.n securing critical supply chains linked to silicon, advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence.
Soon after taking office, Gor announced that India would be invited to join Pax Silica, a US-led strategic initiative focused on securing critical supply chains linked to silicon, advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence.
Built on close cooperation among trusted partners, Pax Silica seeks to cut coercive dependencies, safeguard materials and capabilities essential for artificial intelligence, and enable aligned countries to develop and deploy transformative technologies at scale. US officials describe the initiative as part of a new economic security framework, reflecting a growing consensus that resilient supply chains, trusted technology ecosystems and strategic infrastructure are central to national power and long-term economic growth.
Gor also stressed the importance of sustained dialogue between New Delhi and Washington.
“Real friends can disagree but always resolve their differences," he said, adding that “both sides continue to be actively engaged."
Reaffirming Washington’s intent to push ahead with economic negotiations, the US envoy said, “We are determined to get a trade deal," indicating that talks would continue without interruption.
His comments come at a sensitive phase for India–US trade relations, with negotiations yet to achieve a breakthrough. Recently, US Deputy Trade Representative Rick Switzer visited New Delhi with his team to review the talks. The latest two-day round of negotiations concluded on December 11, 2025.
Indian industry bodies and exporters are closely watching the outcome, as high import duties continue to affect shipments to the US. While exporters are exploring alternative markets, the US remains critical for Indian trade, accounting for around 18 per cent of India’s total exports.
In February 2025, leaders of both countries directed officials to finalise the agreement, with the aim of concluding the first tranche by fall 2025. The broader objective is to expand bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030. The US was India’s largest trading partner in 2024–25, with total trade valued at USD 131.84 billion.
