Jaishankar, Marco Rubio Hold Talks On India-US Ties At ASEAN Summit In Kuala Lumpur

India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday (27 October) on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, the Mint reported.

The two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including bilateral relations, regional security, and global challenges.

Jaishankar shared details of the meeting on X, writing, “Glad to meet @SecRubio this morning in Kuala Lumpur. Appreciated the discussion on our bilateral ties as well as regional and global issues.”

The meeting comes amid ongoing trade negotiations between India and the United States. Tensions escalated earlier this year after US President Donald Trump imposed a 50 per cent tariff on Indian exports, including a 25 per cent penalty linked to New Delhi’s continued imports of discounted Russian crude oil.

The move strained bilateral trade ties, prompting both sides to seek a resolution through fresh dialogue.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has previously stated that India will not sign any trade deal “in haste” or under “restrictive conditions” that compromise national interests.

He said trade agreements should focus on “trust, long-term ties, and creating sustainable frameworks for global business cooperation,” not just “tariffs or market access.”

Goyal added that India’s trade strategy is “guided by a long-term perspective rather than short-term goals,” stressing that “trade deals are for a longer duration… not only about tariffs, it’s also about trust and a relationship.”

Meanwhile, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Friday that negotiations on the proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) are “progressing well,” noting that both sides are “converging on most points.”

He added, “I think we are very close,” referring to the pact proposed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump earlier this year.

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