Jaishankar, Rubio talk: Trade to rare minerals, nuclear to defence

Following the discussions, Jaishankar described it as a “good conversation”, while Gor called it a “positive call”.

In a post on X, Jaishankar said, “Just concluded a good conversation with @SecRubio. Discussed trade, critical minerals, nuclear cooperation, defence and energy. Agreed to remain in touch on these and other issues.”

A quick update: @SecRubio Just concluded a positive call with @DrSJaishankar. They discussed next steps regarding our bilateral trade negotiations, critical minerals and a possible meeting next month. pic.twitter.com/wg3qlF8AuC

— Ambassador Sergio Gor (@USAmbIndia) January 13, 2026

Minutes later, Gor, in an X post, said, “A quick update: @SecRubio Just concluded a positive call with @DrSJaishankar. They discussed next steps regarding our bilateral trade negotiations, critical minerals and a possible meeting next month.”

US State Department’s Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said, “Secretary Rubio spoke today with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, exchanging best wishes for the New Year.”

US congratulates India on nuclear energy law

Referring to the recently enacted n-energy law, he said, “The Secretary congratulated India on enacting the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Bill. He expressed interest in capitalizing on this important development to enhance US-India civil nuclear cooperation, expand opportunities for American companies, advance shared energy security goals, and secure critical mineral supply chains.”

“Secretary Rubio and Minister Jaishankar discussed ongoing bilateral trade agreement negotiations and their shared interest in strengthening economic cooperation,” Pigott said. They also “exchanged perspectives on regional developments, reaffirming the United States’ and India’s commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific”.

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On Monday, when he took charge of the US embassy, Gor said that trade negotiators would speak as early as Tuesday, and that India would be invited to the US-led strategic initiative Pax Silica.

That the Rubio-Jaishankar conversation took place a day later – and the talking points were similar to what Gor had said – pointed to the willingness to move forward on bilateral ties after months of acrimony.

Gor’s statements and the phone call between Jaishankar and Rubio came days after US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick publicly blamed India for delays in concluding a trade deal.

Across a carefully calibrated first-day statement, Gor’s outreach Monday had underlined four themes: his personal connection with India; his proximity to President Donald Trump and the trust he enjoys; the centrality of the Trump-Modi relationship; and the need for steady, incremental steps to stabilise the partnership and address public sentiment.

Newly appointed United States Ambassador to India Sergio Gor addresses the media in New Delhi upon his arrival at the US Embassy on Monday (Photo: PTI).

Jaishankar-Rubio meetings

These set the stage for the conversation between Jaishankar and Rubio. They have met and spoken several times in 2025, starting from their meeting in January last year, on the very first day Rubio entered the office of the US Secretary of State.

In recent months, the two have spoken to each other or met on several occasions, including on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and the meeting of the G7 Foreign Ministers.

In September 2025, in their first meeting after the Trump administration levied 50 per cent tariffs on India and decided to impose a USD 100,000 fee for H-1B visa applicants, their conversation covered a range of bilateral and international issues of “current concern” – indicating that hot-button issues were part of conversation. They also agreed to continue to engage so that they can make progress on “priority areas”.

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In October 2025, Jaishankar held talks with Rubio on the sidelines of the ASEAN and East Asia leaders’ summit in Kuala Lumpur amid chill in the ties that had set in following the 50 per cent tariffs, including a 25 per cent penalty over India’s purchase of Russian oil, closer US-Pakistan ties and Trump’s repeated claims of brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan in May last year.

And in November 2025, the two ministers met on the sidelines of the meeting of G7 Foreign Ministers in Canada, their discussions focusing on trade and supply chains. They also exchanged views on the Ukraine conflict, the Middle East situation and Indo-Pacific.

This time, the message after the phone call is clear that they spoke on bilateral issues plaguing the relationship, at a time when the trade deal is still to be concluded.

India has reduced its Russian oil imports since September 2025, signalling to Washington that the US should take off the 25 per cent punitive tariffs.

Sources said waiver of the 25 per cent tariff penalty is one that can relieve the relationship stress while the two sides continue negotiating the trade deal to get a reduced tariff on the remaining 25 per cent.

The sense of urgency also comes at a time when India and the EU are negotiating their own trade deal, trying to seal it by the time the EU leaders come to India as chief guests for the Republic Day parade and celebrations on January 26 and the India-EU leaders’ summit the next day.