US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday met with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, where discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in the areas of defense, security and strategic technology, including the TRUST initiative.
In a post on
Rubio also holds the position of US National Security Advisor in addition to the position of Secretary of State.
They also exchanged views on regional and global developments of common interest, stressing continued participation in issues affecting international security and stability.
The MEA post said: “US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio met with NSA Ajit Doval today. Discussions focused on strategic defense, security and technology cooperation, including the TRUST initiative. Both NSAs emphasized the top priority given to the bilateral comprehensive global strategic partnership. They also exchanged views on regional and global issues.”
Trust (Transforming the Relationship with Strategic Technology) is the developed version of the previous iCET (Critical and Emerging Technology Initiative). Announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s working visit to Washington on February 13, 2025, this agreement expands India-US cooperation in the areas of semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, critical minerals, biotechnology, energy, aerospace, and supply chain resilience.
The main focus of TRUST is the AI Infrastructure Roadmap, which aims to promote investment, market access and development of US-origin AI systems in India. This initiative is jointly supervised by the National Security Advisors of both countries and is built on the comprehensive global strategic partnership between India and the United States.
The US Embassy in India also shared details of the meeting between the two national security agencies.
According to a post on X, the two sides also held discussions on “counter-terrorism cooperation, regional stability” and strengthening US-India strategic coordination in the Indo-Pacific region. “Secretary Rubio joined an important meeting with NSA Duval focused on counterterrorism cooperation, regional stability, and strengthening U.S.-India strategic coordination in the Indo-Pacific region. Our partnership continues to grow stronger in support of shared security interests!” Read this post.
Ahead of his meeting with NSA Doval, Rubio also had a “good discussion” with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during which the two sides reviewed the full scope of the US-India comprehensive global strategic partnership, including talks on trade, energy, defence, critical minerals and artificial intelligence.
“Good discussions with Secretary Rubio from the USA in New Delhi. We reviewed the full scope of our comprehensive global strategic partnership, including trade, energy, defence, security, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, nuclear cooperation, people-to-people cooperation, counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics,” EAM said in a post on X.
The two sides also discussed issues focusing on common interests and later held a press conference on the readout of their talks.
Rubio is also scheduled to join the group of foreign ministers at the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
“Regional, global and multilateral issues of mutual interest were also discussed. Get a detailed read on the press conference afterwards. We look forward to joining Secretary Rubio and our colleagues from Australia and Japan at the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting on Tuesday,” the post added.
Rubio is currently on a four-day visit to India, during which he will attend the Quartet foreign ministers’ meeting in the national capital.
India is set to host the Security Dialogue in the national capital to deliberate on the evolving security matrix in the Indo-Pacific region and the rising points of friction across West Asia. The high-level meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue – which includes India, the United States, Australia and Japan – is scheduled to be held on May 26 under the chairmanship of Foreign Minister Jaishankar.
