ASEAN Summit: Jaishankar Meets US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Malaysia, Discusses Strengthening Bilateral Ties
Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The high-level meeting focused on deepening bilateral relations, exploring new avenues in trade and defense cooperation, and addressing regional as well as global challenges.
In a post shared on social media, Dr. Jaishankar expressed his appreciation for the meeting, writing, “It was a pleasure to meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Kuala Lumpur this morning. We discussed our bilateral relations, as well as regional and global issues of shared concern.”
During the interaction, Marco Rubio emphasized the importance of maintaining balanced relations with multiple nations while assuring that US ties with Pakistan would not come at the cost of its strategic partnership with India. He stated, “India should understand that we need to maintain relations with many countries. We see an opportunity to expand our strategic relationship with Pakistan. However, this will not be at the expense of our deep and historic relationship with India.”
Significance of the Meeting
The timing of this meeting is particularly crucial as trade tensions between India and the United States have recently emerged due to American tariffs on certain Indian goods. Despite these challenges, both nations are making active efforts to manage differences and preserve the strong momentum in their partnership.
Rubio’s reassurance underscores the mutual commitment to strengthen the India-US strategic partnership, which spans defense, technology, and energy cooperation. Both leaders also discussed regional security issues, including the Indo-Pacific stability, counterterrorism efforts, and maintaining a free and open maritime domain.
Ongoing Trade Negotiations
Negotiations for a comprehensive trade agreement between India and the US are currently in progress. However, both sides continue to face hurdles in reaching a final consensus on specific trade barriers and market access issues.
India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal recently remarked, “We are in active talks with the European Union. We are talking to the US as well, but we do not rush into any agreements, nor do we enter into them by setting deadlines or under any external pressure.”
This reflects India’s cautious and balanced approach toward ensuring that any future trade pact aligns with national interests while promoting fair and sustainable economic growth.
Conclusion
The Jaishankar-Rubio meeting at the ASEAN Summit highlights the continuing engagement and trust between India and the United States amid global uncertainties. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing cooperation across sectors — from strategic and defense ties to economic and technological partnerships — ensuring that the partnership remains a key pillar of stability and progress in the Indo-Pacific region.