Jaishankar–Rubio talks signal strategic reset as India, US eye critical minerals pact – The Times of India

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The TOI correspondent from Washington: External affairs minister S Jaishankar met with US secretary of state Marco Rubio on Wednesday in a deliberate effort by both sides to move ties beyond a narrowly transactional trade agreement and anchor it in longer-term strategic priorities, notably critical minerals, supply chains and the Indo-Pacific. Coming on the heels of a trade deal that cut US tariffs on Indian goods to around 18 percent, the talks underscored Washington’s push to stabilise—and deepen—ties with New Delhi at a time of global economic and geopolitical churn. Describing the engagement as “a wide-ranging conversation that covered our bilateral cooperation agenda, regional and global issues,” Jaishankar signalled continuity in India’s approach: pragmatic, multi-sectoral and increasingly confident.

“Facets of the India–US strategic partnership discussed included trade, energy, nuclear cooperation, defence, critical minerals and technology,” Jaishankar said after the meeting. Both sides agreed on early meetings of various bilateral mechanisms to advance what they called their “shared interests.”The Rubio–Jaishankar meeting took place just ahead of the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial, where the US hopes to rally partners around alternative supply chains for what officials increasingly call the “oil of the future”—lithium, cobalt, rare earths and other inputs essential for semiconductors, electric vehicles and clean energy technologies. According to a State Department readout, Rubio and Jaishankar discussed formalising bilateral cooperation on critical minerals exploration, mining and processing, an area where India’s geological potential and growing industrial base are seen as complementary to American capital and technology.In remarks at the meeting, Jaishankar underlined challenges of excessive concentration and the importance of de-risking supply chains through structured international cooperation. He also highlighted India’s efforts towards greater resilience through initiatives including National Critical Minerals Mission, Rare Earth Corridors and responsible commerce, while conveying India’s support to the FORGE initiative on critical minerals.India’s role at the ministerial is central to a broader US ambition: forging an “OPEC-like” arrangement for critical minerals among trusted producers and processors. The idea is not price-setting in the classical cartel sense, but coordinated investment, standards and supply assurances to dilute China’s dominance across mining, refining and downstream manufacturing. For New Delhi, participation offers a chance to position itself as a reliable hub in global value chains while accelerating domestic capabilities in semiconductors, batteries and advanced manufacturing.The Jaishankar–Rubio engagement also reflected Washington’s attempt to salvage and refocus the strategic narrative after months in which trade frictions often overshadowed security cooperation. The State Department said the two leaders concluded their meeting by reaffirming their commitment to expanding bilateral and multilateral cooperation through the Quad and acknowledged that “a prosperous Indo-Pacific region remains vital to advancing our shared interests.” Notably, Jaishankar’s own public post made no mention of the Quad, a reminder of India’s preference for strategic autonomy even as it works closely with the US, Japan and Australia.Beyond Rubio, Jaishankar’s Washington visit featured talks with treasury secretary Scott Bessent, where the emphasis shifted to trade, investment and economic alignment. The broader backdrop is significant: India has signalled a gradual exit from Russian oil over time, while the US side has pointed to a long-term purchase commitment potentially exceeding $500 billion. Together, these moves point to what officials on both sides have described as an “economic reset” after years of tariff disputes.Rubio, in public remarks, spoke of “unlocking new opportunities” between the two democracies. Jaishankar, for his part, framed the discussions as part of India’s push for a “full strategic partnership” with the US—one that spans defence and nuclear energy, emerging technologies and resilient supply chains. With early meetings of sectoral mechanisms now agreed and the critical minerals agenda moving to the fore, the relationship appears to be shifting from episodic bargaining to structured cooperation.The meeting did not erase underlying differences, but it did clarify priorities. As the Quad and Indo-Pacific frameworks return to the diplomatic foreground, and as critical minerals eclipse hydrocarbons as a strategic currency, India and the US are testing whether convergence can be sustained. For now, Jaishankar’s Washington talks suggest both sides believe the answer is yes—and that the next phase of the partnership will be mined, quite literally, from the ground up.