New Delhi:External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday met US Ambassador Sergio Gore, a close aide of President Donald Trump, to attend the US-led inaugural ministerial meeting on mineral supply chains ahead of a planned visit to Washington next month.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Ambassador to India Sergio Gore in New Delhi on Thursday. (@DrSJaishankar X)Jaishankar’s visit to the US on February 4-5, which has yet to be formally announced by either side, is being seen as an opportunity to address the Trump administration’s pressure on bilateral relations over trade and tariff policies, especially as he is expected to hold bilateral meetings with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, people familiar with the matter said.
“Delighted to meet @USAmbIndia in New Delhi today with Sergio Gore. Our conversation covered many dimensions of our partnership,” Jaishankar said on social media. “Welcome him and express confidence that he will contribute to strengthening India-US relations.”
Gore said in a social media post that he and Jaishankar had a “very important discussion that covered everything from defence, trade, critical minerals and working towards our common interests”.
There was no official readout from either side. Gore, who took office earlier this month amid unprecedented strain on bilateral relations over Trump’s 50% tariff on Indian exports, emphasized India’s importance as a partner of the United States and said both sides are actively engaged in hammering out a trade deal.
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The upcoming ministerial meeting in Washington will focus on strengthening the supply chain for rare earths. India is also expected to join Pax Silica, the US flagship initiative to build a secure global semiconductor and AI supply chain.
India and the US held several rounds of talks last year to finalize a proposed bilateral trade deal, but talks stalled after Trump imposed a 25% reciprocal tariff on Indian goods and followed it up with a 25% punitive tariff on Russian oil purchases.