Jaishankar to visit US after seven months, meets envoy ahead of high-level talks

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will travel to the United States next week, marking his first visit to Washington in about seven months, as India and the US step up efforts to strengthen bilateral ties amid progress in trade negotiations and growing cooperation on critical minerals.

Ahead of the visit, Jaishankar on Thursday met US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor in New Delhi. The discussions focused on key dimensions of the India–US partnership, including trade, defence cooperation and critical mineral supply chains. The meeting is seen as part of preparatory diplomacy before a series of high-level engagements in Washington.

Jaishankar is scheduled to attend the inaugural ministerial meeting on critical mineral supply chains during his US visit. He is also expected to hold bilateral talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, amid indications that both sides are making renewed attempts to conclude a long-pending India–US trade agreement.

“Pleased to meet @USAmbIndia Sergio Gor today in New Delhi. Our conversation covered the many dimensions of our partnership,” Jaishankar said in a social media post, expressing confidence that the ambassador would contribute to strengthening bilateral relations.

Echoing the sentiment, Gor described the interaction as a “highly substantive discussion” covering defence, trade and critical minerals, adding that both countries were working towards shared strategic interests.

India and the US had held multiple rounds of negotiations last year to firm up the proposed trade deal. However, talks slowed after the US imposed steep tariffs on Indian goods in August, including punitive levies linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil. Bilateral relations also came under strain over differences related to immigration policy and other geopolitical issues.

Despite these challenges, authoritative sources have said that “very significant” progress has been made in recent negotiations, raising expectations of a breakthrough. New Delhi has maintained steady engagement with Washington even while finalising its free trade agreement with the European Union.

Jaishankar last visited the United States in June–July 2025 for a Quad foreign ministers’ meeting. His upcoming trip comes at a time when both countries appear keen to reset ties and expand cooperation across strategic, economic and geopolitical domains.