Jaishankar, Rubio Bolster Quad Ties, Hail India-US Trade Deal Ahead of Critical Minerals Meet

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met to deepen bilateral and multilateral cooperation, particularly through the Quad.
• They welcomed the recent India-US trade deal, which reduced US tariffs on Indian goods to 18 percent.
• Discussions focused on formalizing cooperation in critical minerals exploration, mining, and processing, ahead of the Critical Minerals Ministerial.
• Both leaders emphasized the strategic importance of the Indo-Pacific region for shared interests and stability.
• Jaishankar's visit to the US includes participation in the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington, DC, with over 50 countries attending.

Why It Matters: India and the US are strengthening strategic and economic ties, focusing on Quad, trade, and critical minerals.