Jaishankar, Rubio Discuss Trade, Defense, Energy; US Envoy Calls India 'Essential Partner'

• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a telephonic conversation on January 13.
• Discussions focused on cooperation in trade, critical minerals, nuclear energy, defense, and energy sectors.
• US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gore, emphasized India's importance, calling it an "essential partner" for Washington.
• Gore announced an invitation for India to join 'Pax Silica', a US-led strategic alliance on critical minerals and AI.
• The new US Ambassador aims to redefine diplomacy and strengthen the US-India global partnership, despite recent tensions over tariffs and H-1B visas.

Why It Matters: India-US relations are strengthening through high-level talks and strategic initiatives, despite past trade tensions.