More than just allies: Jaishankar holds delegation-level talks with US State Secy Rubio
New Delhi, May 24
India and the United States kicked off high-level delegation talks on Sunday, reinforcing what both nations described as a "Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership" aimed at shaping global affairs well beyond their respective regions.
The meeting, led by Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is on his first official visit to India, underscored a deep convergence of interests amid a challenging global geopolitical landscape.
Welcoming Secretary Rubio to the capital, Jaishankar emphasised that the bilateral relationship has evolved into a powerhouse of international cooperation.
"We have a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, which in plain language means we have a deep, broad-based cooperation and a relationship that impacts and influences other regions in the world," Jaishankar stated.
He noted that despite turbulent times globally, the shared interests between New Delhi and Washington ensure a bedrock of open, productive discussion.
Echoing these sentiments, Rubio described his initial experience in India as "fantastic" and distinguished standard international alignments and the Washington-New Delhi bond.
"The United States and India aren't just allies; we're strategic allies, and that's of critical importance," Rubio said. He noted that the partnership uniquely "extends to opportunities to cooperate globally in different regions of the world," explicitly hinting at potential future collaboration in the Western Hemisphere.
Rubio added that as the two largest democracies in the world, the shared governance model provides a natural "baseline" for "incredible cooperation."
Present at the delegation-level talks were the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, among others.
"It has already been a fantastic first day. We're looking forward to our visits and our talks today and learning more about the country... As you've highlighted, the United States and India aren't just allies; we're strategic allies, and that's of critical importance. We obviously work with countries all over the world and all over the region on a variety of issues as they emerge, but our strategic partnership is what sets this relationship apart, because it's not simply limited to a region. It extends to opportunities to cooperate globally in different regions of the world, and that includes potentially in the Western Hemisphere and places like that," he said.
He further said that there is a "lot to work on", describing India and the US as the two "largest democracies in the world", and he said that alone is a "baseline" for "incredible cooperation". He also added that the current visit is about "continuing to build on what is already a very solid and strong strategic partnership."
Earlier on Saturday, the US Secretary of State called on Prime Minister Modi shortly after arriving in New Delhi.
Following the meeting, PM Modi stated that both democracies will continue their close cooperation for global welfare.
According to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), the visiting Secretary briefed PM Modi on the steady upward trajectory of bilateral cooperation across several key areas, including defence, strategic technologies, trade, investment, energy security, connectivity, education, and people-to-people ties.
On Saturday, Rubio commenced his four-day official visit to India by landing in Kolkata. Accompanied by his wife, Jeanette Rubio, the US Secretary of State visited the Mother House, the global headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata.
Rubio's itinerary from May 23 to 26, which spans Kolkata, Agra, Jaipur, and New Delhi, carries immense diplomatic weight due to critical energy negotiations and scheduled minister-level engagements with Quad partner countries.
New Delhi is set to host the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting on May 26.
At the invitation of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi will be arriving in India to join Rubio for the multilateral talks.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While this is good news, I hope we don't become too dependent on the US. India has always been a non-aligned power and should maintain strategic autonomy. The talk of cooperating in the Western Hemisphere seems like it could drag us into regions where we have limited interests.
It's heartening to see such high-level diplomacy happening in Delhi. Rubio's visit to Mother House in Kolkata was a nice touch too - shows respect for Indian culture. But I'd like to see more concrete outcomes on trade and technology transfer for Indian students and professionals.
Strategic partnership sounds great, but what about the H-1B visa issues and the trade tariffs? Our IT professionals are still facing uncertainty in the US. Jaishankar should push for easier movement of talent. Acha hai relation strong hai, but ground-level issues matter too. 🤔
Finally! A US Secretary of State who understands that India is more than just a regional player. The phrase "Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership" is appropriate. As the world's largest democracies, we should lead on climate change and digital governance too. Happy to see this momentum. 🙏
As an American who has lived in India for 3 years, this partnership makes so much sense. The trust between our governments is real. But I hope both sides remember that true strategic partnership also means respecting each other's sovereignty on issues like the Russia relationship or agricultural subsidies. Still, positive step forward.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.