External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on Wednesday as the two sides discussed the India-US strategic partnership and a range of regional and global issues. Jaishankar said he reiterated India’s interests and concerns regarding the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, while the two ministers also discussed developments in the Gulf and Ukraine. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly’s high-level week, where Jaishankar is scheduled to address the General Assembly on Saturday.
The Jaishankar-Rubio meeting focuses on strategic partnership
The meeting comes as India and the US continue discussions on trade, security and regional cooperation despite differences over proposed measures targeting countries and entities linked to Russia and Iran.
Rubio said the two countries were working to strengthen their strategic partnership and coordinate on regional priorities and upcoming multilateral engagements. Jaishankar, meanwhile, said India had reiterated its interests and concerns regarding the proposed sanctions legislation.
The legislation, referred to as SRIA, has implications for countries continuing significant economic engagement with Russia and Iran. India has maintained energy and trade ties with Russia, making any potential sanctions affecting Russian oil purchases an important issue for New Delhi.
The meeting therefore comes at a time when broader India-US economic discussions are also continuing. Trade negotiations between the two countries have remained an important part of the bilateral agenda.
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Jaishankar-Rubio meeting covers Gulf and Ukraine
The meeting also covered the situations in the Gulf and Ukraine, according to Jaishankar’s account of the discussions.
The Gulf remains strategically important for India because of its energy supplies, trade routes and large Indian-origin population across the region. Developments affecting shipping and energy security therefore remain a significant concern for New Delhi.
The Ukraine conflict was another key issue. India has maintained diplomatic engagement with both Russia and Western countries while calling for dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also publicly urged Russian President Vladimir Putin last month to end the war.
Jaishankar’s discussions in New York come against this wider diplomatic backdrop, with the UN General Assembly bringing together heads of government, foreign ministers and senior diplomats from across the world.
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Jaishankar-Rubio meeting comes amid wider Quad coordination
The meeting also takes place within the broader framework of India-US cooperation through the Quad, which includes India, the United States, Japan and Australia.
The four countries have continued coordination on issues including maritime security, infrastructure and energy in the Indo-Pacific. At the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting in New Delhi in May, the members reiterated cooperation on maritime security, port infrastructure and energy.
For India and the US, the strategic relationship therefore extends beyond their differences over trade and sanctions. Cooperation continues across the Indo-Pacific even as both sides navigate disagreements on economic and geopolitical issues.
Jaishankar is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Saturday during the afternoon session beginning at 3 pm local time, which will be 12.30 am in India on Sunday. His meetings on the sidelines of the General Assembly are expected to form part of India’s wider diplomatic engagement during the high-level week.
The Jaishankar-Rubio meeting adds to that diplomatic push, with India seeking to articulate its position on sanctions while continuing engagement with Washington on regional and multilateral priorities.