External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar engaged in discussions with American counterpart Marco Rubio on Monday to address the strained bilateral relations caused by the imposition of punitive US tariffs on Indian goods. The meeting took place in Kuala Lumpur during the annual summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Expressing his satisfaction, Jaishankar shared on social media, “Glad to meet @SecRubio this morning in Kuala Lumpur. Appreciated the discussion on our bilateral ties as well as regional and global issues.”
Tensions between New Delhi and Washington escalated when US President Donald Trump enforced 50% tariffs on India, including an additional 25% levies on Russian crude oil imports. India strongly criticized the US actions as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.”
During the meeting, Jaishankar and Rubio also touched upon the proposed trade agreement between the two nations. Five rounds of negotiations have been concluded for the initial phase of the trade deal, with officials indicating that it is on the verge of completion.
Additionally, Jaishankar held discussions with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, and Thai counterpart Sihasak Phuangketkeow. The ASEAN, comprising 11 nations, plays a significant role in the region, with India, the US, China, Japan, and Australia among its dialogue partners.
The annual ASEAN summit is being hosted by Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, as the current chair of the grouping, bringing together key regional leaders for strategic discussions and engagements.