'Ties with India critical': Marco Rubio on meeting S Jaishankar amid tariff, H-1B row
PTC News Desk: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met in New York on Monday in an effort to stabilize strained ties, just days after President Donald Trump announced a USD 100,000 fee for new H-1B visas — a decision that unsettled India’s technology industry.
Their meeting, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, marked the first in-person engagement since US tariffs on Indian exports reignited trade tensions earlier this summer. Both leaders exchanged warm greetings, with Washington and New Delhi keen to signal continuity in the relationship despite growing economic frictions.
“India is a relationship of critical importance to the United States,” Rubio said, according to a State Department readout. He praised New Delhi’s engagement on trade, defense, energy, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals, and pledged to “continue working together to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region, including through the Quad.”
Jaishankar emphasized the importance of persistence, noting on X after the meeting: “Our talks spanned a wide range of bilateral and global issues of concern. We agreed on the need for consistent engagement to advance progress in key areas. We will stay in close contact.”
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Trump’s sudden visa announcement on Friday weighed heavily on the discussions. India remains the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas, accounting for 71 percent of approvals last year, compared to just under 12 percent for China. Experts warn the newly imposed fee could significantly raise expenses for Indian IT service firms that are heavily dependent on the program.
- With inputs from agencies
