US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on February 3, 2026, with discussions focused on formalizing bilateral cooperation in “critical minerals exploration, mining, and processing.”

According to a statement issued by Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott, Secretary Rubio and Minister Jaishankar welcomed the trade deal reached between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “The two leaders emphasized the importance of our democracies working together to unlock new economic opportunities and advance our shared energy security goals,” the statement said.

During the meeting, both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation through the Quad. They noted that a “prosperous” Indo-Pacific region remains “vital” to advancing the shared interests of both countries.

Separately, Minister Jaishankar also met US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, describing the engagement as a “useful discussion on advancement of India – US economic partnership and strategic cooperation.”

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