Washington, 23 September (H.S.): U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio cast India as a relationship of “critical importance” to US after talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, according to an official State Department readout.

He emphasized sustained cooperation across trade, defense, energy, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals, and pledged to advance a free and open Indo-Pacific in concert with India, including through the Quad.

Rubio’s message underscored continuity in the partnership even as recent tariff measures and H‑1B visa changes have added friction to the bilateral landscape, with his office highlighting sectoral engagement as a pathway to mutual prosperity.

The meeting formed part of ongoing high-level contacts this year, with Rubio reiterating that US and India would keep working together on shared priorities in the Indo-Pacific and beyond .

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar