In a significant development, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi on Monday, May 24, 2026, to review the full spectrum of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. The meeting came a day after Rubio called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his four-day visit to India.
The talks between Jaishankar and Rubio covered a wide range of topics, including trade and energy, defence and security, critical minerals and artificial intelligence, nuclear cooperation, people-to-people ties, and cooperation in counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics efforts. Regional, global, and multilateral issues of mutual interest were also discussed during the meeting.
Jaishankar, in a post on X after the meeting, said that the discussions covered the entire spectrum of the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, including trade and energy, defence and security, critical minerals and AI, nuclear and people-to-people ties, and cooperation in counter-terror and counter-narcotics efforts. He added that regional, global, and multilateral issues of mutual interest were also discussed.
During the joint press conference, Rubio highlighted the deepening strategic partnership between India and the United States, describing it as a "strategic partnership is when your interests as two nations are aligned, and you work together strategically to solve those problems." Jaishankar, on the other hand, emphasized the importance of energy security for India and said that the country would continue to diversify its energy sourcing and rely on multiple dependable suppliers.
Rubio's visit to India comes at a time when the global energy market is facing significant challenges, including the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. Jaishankar said that India's strategy was to diversify its energy basket to safeguard national interests, which includes sourcing energy from multiple countries, including the United States.
The meeting also covered defence and strategic cooperation, with Jaishankar mentioning the recently renewed 10-year major defence partnership framework agreement between India and the United States. He also highlighted the signing of a comprehensive underwater domain awareness roadmap. On the economic front, Jaishankar said that both countries discussed the importance of early finalisation of the India-US interim trade agreement, which is expected to pave the way for a larger bilateral trade pact.
Jaishankar also mentioned that India's five-point approach on key regional and global issues includes advocating dialogue and diplomacy for conflict resolution, supporting uninterrupted maritime commerce, and strongly opposing the weaponisation of trade and resources. He added that New Delhi remains committed to diplomacy, lawful conduct, economic resilience, and trusted global partnerships.
The meeting between Jaishankar and Rubio also focused on energy security and nuclear cooperation, with Jaishankar welcoming the expansion in India's energy trade with the United States in recent months. He said that diversified supplies are at the heart of energy security for India.
