External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday underscored the importance of trade and energy security in India’s ties with the United States, saying New Delhi’s priority was to ensure affordable and accessible energy for its 1.4 billion people while pushing for an early trade agreement with Washington.
Addressing a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Delhi, Jaishankar said both sides discussed accelerating negotiations on an interim trade arrangement that could pave the way for a broader bilateral trade agreement envisioned during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States in February 2025.
“We spoke about the value of concluding at an early date the final text of the interim agreement regarding reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade,” Jaishankar said, adding that an Indian team had recently visited Washington and an American delegation was expected in India soon to carry forward the talks.
The minister also highlighted the growing importance of energy cooperation between the two countries, saying diversified supply chains remained central to India’s energy security strategy.
“Our government’s fundamental responsibility is to address the needs of 1.4 billion people. Ensuring the accessibility and affordability of energy for them is our prime objective,” Jaishankar said.
He said both countries welcomed the recent expansion in bilateral energy trade and also discussed opportunities in nuclear energy cooperation. According to Jaishankar, the passage of the “Shanti Act” had opened up new possibilities for collaboration in the nuclear sector, with an American delegation recently visiting India to explore opportunities.
“Diversified supplies are at the heart of energy security for India. We devoted some time to nuclear energy cooperation as well. The passage of the Shanti Act has opened up new possibilities. We hope to realise the potential of cooperation in the nuclear domain. I also raised with the Secretary some regulatory issues that we have on the American side,” Jaishankar said.
Apart from trade and energy, the talks also focused on defence and strategic cooperation.
“Where defence and security cooperation is concerned, you’re all aware that the 10-year major defence partnership framework agreement was recently renewed. A comprehensive underwater domain awareness roadmap was also signed. We discussed the importance of taking into account the Make in India approach and lessons drawn from recent conflicts while going forward in the defence domain,” he said.
Rubio is currently on a four-day visit to India aimed at recalibrating bilateral ties that have faced strains since mid-last year. Shortly after arriving in New Delhi from Kolkata, the US Secretary of State held talks with Prime Minister Modi on key areas including defence, trade, energy and technology cooperation.
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