US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Monday, as the two countries seek to advance trade talks and alleviate tensions stemming from Washington’s tariffs. The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of a Southeast Asian summit in Malaysia, marks the highest-level contact between the two nations since the US imposed sanctions on Russian oil companies last week. India relies heavily on Russian oil, which has been a point of contention between the US and India.
The meeting between Rubio and Jaishankar was seen as a significant step towards easing tensions, which escalated in August when the US raised tariffs to 50 percent. US officials have accused India of fueling Russia’s war in Ukraine by purchasing Moscow’s discounted oil. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Southeast Asian summit via video link, while US President Donald Trump attended in person.
Few details of the meeting have been released, but Jaishankar posted a photograph on social media showing him shaking hands with Rubio, expressing appreciation for their discussion on bilateral ties, regional, and global issues. The US and India have been engaged in trade talks, with the US seeking to reduce its trade deficit with India. The imposition of sanctions on Russian oil companies has added complexity to the trade negotiations.
The US has been pressing India to reduce its reliance on Russian oil, with President Trump claiming that Prime Minister Modi has agreed to cut Russian oil imports. However, India has not commented on this claim. The meeting between Rubio and Jaishankar is seen as an attempt to find a resolution to the trade rift and alleviate tensions between the two countries.
The trade dispute between the US and India has significant implications for the global economy, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. As the two countries continue to negotiate, the outcome of these talks will be closely watched by the international community. The meeting between Rubio and Jaishankar is a positive step towards resolving the trade rift, and further discussions are expected to take place in the coming weeks.