Rubio: Economic ties between US and India poised for growth

On January 22, 2025, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with India's External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in Washington, DC, to reaffirm their shared commitment to advancing the strategic partnership between the United States and India.

This meeting, which marked Secretary Rubio's first bilateral engagement since assuming office, focused on a wide range of issues, including regional security, economic cooperation, and opportunities for further collaboration in emerging technologies, Caliber.Az reports via Indian media.

Both leaders emphasized their mutual commitment to deepening ties between their countries, particularly in the areas of critical and emerging technologies, defence, energy, and the promotion of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Secretary Rubio also underscored the Trump Administration's desire to work closely with India on issues such as irregular migration and advancing economic and trade relations.

In a statement on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Minister Jaishankar expressed his optimism regarding the future of US-India relations. He said, "Delighted to meet Secretary Marco Rubio for his first bilateral meeting after assuming office as Secretary of State. We reviewed our extensive bilateral partnership, of which Secretary Rubio has been a strong advocate. We also exchanged views on a wide range of regional and global issues, and I look forward to working closely with him to advance our strategic cooperation."

The meeting between Rubio and Jaishankar comes at a critical time for the US-India relationship, which has seen substantial growth in recent years, particularly in the areas of defence collaboration, trade, and shared strategic goals within the Indo-Pacific. With an increasing focus on critical and emerging technologies, both countries have expressed interest in leveraging innovation to enhance security and economic development.

Additionally, the Indian-American community, which now numbers approximately 4.4 million, has played an instrumental role in fostering stronger ties between the two nations. The community is the third-largest Asian ethnic group in the United States, with 3.18 million people of Indian origin. They are well-represented across diverse sectors, including politics, business, and technology. In particular, five individuals of Indian origin currently serve in the US Congress, reflecting the growing influence of this community in the political landscape.

As both countries continue to strengthen their strategic partnership, the meeting between Secretary Rubio and Minister Jaishankar underscores the importance of collaboration in shaping the future of the US-India relationship, with an eye toward addressing challenges such as regional stability, economic growth, and shared global interests.

By Tamilla Hasanova