External affairs minister S Jaishankar met US ambassador to India Sergio Gor in New Delhi on Thursday, ahead of his planned trip to Washington next month. The meeting comes amid strains in India-US relations due to trade tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Discussions covered various aspects of the bilateral partnership.
External affairs minister S Jaishankar met US ambassador Sergio Gor, a close aide of President Donald Trump, on Thursday in New Delhi. This meeting occurred ahead of Jaishankar's planned visit to Washington on February 4-5 to attend the US-led inaugural ministerial meeting on critical mineral supply chains. The visit has not yet been formally announced by either side.
The trip is seen as an opportunity to address tensions in bilateral relations stemming from the Trump administration's trade and tariff policies. Jaishankar is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with US secretary of state Marco Rubio, according to people familiar with the matter. On social media, Jaishankar stated: “Pleased to meet @USAmbIndia Sergio Gor today in New Delhi. Our conversation covered the many dimensions of our partnership.” He added: “Welcomed him and expressed confidence that he would contribute to the strengthening of India-US relations.”
Ambassador Gor described the discussion as “highly substantive” and noted it covered defence, trade, critical minerals, and common interests. There was no official readout from either side. Gor assumed office earlier this month against the backdrop of unprecedented strains, including 50% tariffs on Indian exports imposed by Trump.
Gor has emphasized India's importance as a US partner and the ongoing efforts to conclude a trade deal. Last year, negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement stalled after Trump imposed a 25% reciprocal tariff on Indian goods, followed by a 25% punitive levy related to Russian oil purchases. The upcoming Washington meeting will focus on strengthening supply chains for rare earths, and India is expected to join the US initiative Pax Silica for secure global supply chains in semiconductors and AI technology.
