Jaishankar’s US Visit for 80th UNGA: Key talks with US, Philippines and trade negotiations

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is in New York for the 80th UNGA session, where he will hold his first in-person meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio amid rising trade tensions.

New Delhi: Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will meet US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on Monday. This meeting coincides with the start of the 80th high-level session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

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This will be the first face-to-face meeting between Jaishankar and Rubio, especially in the backdrop of US President Donald Trump's imposition of an additional 25 percent tariff on India. This duty was imposed due to India's purchase of oil from Russia, bringing the total tariff to 50 percent.

Previous meeting and Quad cooperation

Rubio and Jaishankar previously met at the Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting in Washington, DC, in July. This bilateral meeting on Monday is considered significant in terms of India-US relations.

Negotiations on a Trade Agreement

On the same day, India and the United States will also hold talks to quickly finalize a trade agreement. A delegation led by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will participate in these talks.

According to the Commerce Ministry, positive discussions are underway between the two countries regarding a trade agreement. Substantial progress was made in this regard during the visit of officials from the Office of the US Trade Representative to India on September 16th. Now, there are plans to further accelerate this process.

Meeting with the Foreign Minister of the Philippines

Jaishankar held his first bilateral meeting after arriving in New York with Philippine Foreign Minister Theresa P. Lazaro. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed advancing bilateral relations following President Bongbong Marcos' recent visit to India.

They also discussed cooperation between India and the Philippines in the United Nations and the Indo-Pacific region.

Other Events During the UNGA Session

Foreign Minister Jaishankar will participate in various bilateral and multilateral meetings throughout the week. He will also deliver India's national statement at the General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly on September 27. This speech will be delivered from the UN General Assembly's famous "Green Podium."

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This week is crucial for renewing diplomatic and trade relations between India and the United States. Jaishankar's visit to the United States, high-level meetings, and discussions on trade agreements indicate that the two countries are moving towards further deepening their strategic partnership.