S Jaishankar defends Marco Rubio meeting in Mumbai as India-US trade deal nears completion
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar highlights historical precedent for hosting foreign dignitaries in Mumbai as Washington signals rapid progress on trade and strategic ties.
S Jaishankar backs Mumbai diplomatic venue
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has defended holding high-level diplomatic talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Mumbai, citing historical precedent and reaffirming the city's standing as India's financial hub.
Speaking at the NDTV World Summit, Jaishankar rejected criticism from opposition leader Rahul Gandhi over the choice of venue outside New Delhi. Jaishankar pointed to past diplomatic history to demonstrate that high-level international meetings outside the national capital are standard practice.
He recalled former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi travelling to Shimla in 1972 to meet Pakistani President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto to sign the landmark Shimla Agreement. He also cited former External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid hosting Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf for lunch in Jaipur.
"If going out of Delhi to meet a foreign leader or a foreign counterpart is summoning, I can give you a lot of examples," Jaishankar said, emphasizing that Mumbai's role as India's economic capital makes it an ideal setting for international diplomatic engagements.
India-US trade pact entering final stages
The minister's defence comes as economic and strategic engagement between New Delhi and Washington accelerates. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that bilateral trade negotiations are approaching a successful conclusion.
Speaking in an interview with Raj Chengappa for India Today, Rubio expressed confidence that outstanding items in the trade talks would soon be finalized.
"We're very close, and I anticipate. I can't foresee anything that will keep us from reaching agreement," Rubio said.
Strategic cooperation across key domains
Beyond trade, Rubio outlined broad alignment between the two nations across energy security, counter-terrorism, and regional stability.
Addressing energy dynamics, Rubio noted temporary US purchases of Russian diesel aimed at stabilizing international market prices, while encouraging India to expand crude diversification towards the Western Hemisphere and scale up domestic refining.
On security issues, Rubio reaffirmed that Washington's engagement with Pakistan would not undermine anti-terror collaboration with India, while underscoring joint initiatives under the Quad grouping to strengthen maritime security and supply chain resilience.
| Area of Engagement | US Position and Outlook |
|---|---|
| Bilateral Trade Pact | Final stages; agreement expected shortly |
| Ukraine Conflict | Diplomatic resolution required; focused on Donbas |
| Energy Dynamics | Encourages diversification and higher domestic refining |
| Visa Regulations | Global adjustments made; no target on Indian nationals |
| Quad Initiatives | Focused on maritime security and supply chain strength |
Rubio added that recent adjustments to US visa policies were global measures rather than policies directed at Indian citizens, reiterating Washington's commitment to maintaining robust people-to-people and economic ties with New Delhi.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Year of Shimla Agreement cited by EAM | 1972 | External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar |
| Status of India-US trade pact | Very close to completion | US Secretary of State Marco Rubio |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Mumbai | Financial capital of India where the bilateral meeting took place. |
| S Jaishankar | External Affairs Minister of India who defended holding talks in Mumbai. |
| Marco Rubio | US Secretary of State who held bilateral talks and outlined trade progress. |
