Giving India Priority, Newly Appointed US Secretary Of State, NSA Hold First Meetings With EAM Jaishankar

The US Secretary of State "emphasised the Trump administration's desire to work with India to advance economic ties and address concerns related to irregular migration.

New Delhi:In a clear indication of how important India is for the new Trump administration, newly appointed US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz had their first bilateral and international meetings respectively with India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday.

Rubio expressed Trump administration's desire to advance economic ties with India, and address concerns related to irregular migration, a spokesperson for the top US diplomat said.

Rubio, 53, opted to have his first bilateral meeting with his Indian counterpart, underlining the importance the Trump administration attaches to strengthening ties with India. The meeting with Jaishankar, 70, at the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department lasted for more than hour and took place soon after a Quad ministerial meeting.

The US Secretary of State "emphasised the Trump administration's desire to work with India to advance economic ties and address concerns related to irregular migration", State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a readout after the meeting. The two top diplomats affirmed a shared commitment to continuing to strengthen the India-US partnership, she said.

"They discussed a wide range of topics, including regional issues and opportunities to further deepen the US-India relationship, in particular on critical and emerging technologies, defence cooperation, energy, and on advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region," Bruce said.

Apart from Jaishankar, India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Kwatra, was also present at the meeting. Rubio and Jaishankar appeared before a pooled press for a photo session after the meeting, shaking hands and smiling at the cameras.

"Delighted to meet @secrubio for his first bilateral meeting after assumption of office as Secretary of State. Reviewed our extensive bilateral partnership, of which @secrubio has been a strong advocate.

"Also exchanged views on a wide range of regional and global issues. Look forward to closely working with him to advance our strategic cooperation," Jaishankar said in a post on X.

Jaishankar also had a meeting with the US National Security Advisor (NSA) Mike Waltz at the White House.

"Great to meet NSA @michaelgwaltz again this afternoon. Discussed strengthening our friendship to ensure mutual benefit and enhance global stability and prosperity. Looking forward to working together on an active and outcome-oriented agenda," the external affairs minister said on X after the meeting.

Jaishankar is in Washington at the invitation of the US government to attend the presidential inauguration. Before the bilateral meeting on Tuesday, he attended the maiden Quad ministerial of the new Trump administration along with his counterparts from Australia, Japan and the United States. Quad is a grouping of four countries aimed at maintaining peace and law and order in the Indo-Pacific region.

In less than an hour after entering the Foggy Bottom headquarters of the State Department as the secretary of state, Rubio held his first multilateral with his Quad counterparts Jaishankar, Penny Wong from Australia and Japan's Iwaya Takeshi.

"Attended a productive Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting today in Washington DC. Thank @secrubio for hosting us and FMs @SenatorWong and Takeshi Iwaya for their participation," Jaishankar posted on X after the ministerial.

He added, "Significant that the Quad FMM took place within hours of the inauguration of the Trump administration. This underlines the priority it has in the foreign policy of its member states. Our wide-ranging discussions addressed different dimensions of ensuring a free, open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

"Agreed on the importance of thinking bigger, deepening the agenda and intensifying our collaboration. The meeting today sends a clear message that in an uncertain and volatile world, the Quad will continue to be a force for global good."

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