External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar concluded a three-day visit to the United States from January 20 to 22, representing India as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s special envoy at the swearing-in ceremony of Donald Trump, who assumed office as the 47th President of the United States on Monday. In a YouTube video, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reflected on the visit during which he joined global leaders, including Argentine President Javier Milei and Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa, at the US Capitol for the inaugural ceremony. Reflecting on his prominent placement at the event, Jaishankar remarked: “Special Envoy of PM Modi is naturally treated very well.” During his visit, Jaishankar engaged with top US officials, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Senator Mark Warner, co-chair of the US Senate India Caucus. These discussions emphasized bolstering India-US relations, particularly in economic and strategic domains. A key highlight of Jaishankar’s trip was his participation in the first Quad ministerial meeting under the Trump administration. The Quad—comprising India, the US, Australia, and Japan—aims to foster stability in the Indo-Pacific. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who chaired the meeting, highlighted the need for deeper collaboration among allies. Following the meeting, Jaishankar and Rubio held a one-on-one discussion with India’s Ambassador to the US, Vinay Kwatra, also in attendance. The talks covered economic cooperation and irregular migration, with Rubio reiterating the Trump administration’s commitment to strengthening ties with India. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce highlighted Rubio “emphasised the Trump administration’s desire to work with India to advance economic ties and address concerns related to irregular migration." Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations. Jaishankar also met with US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz at the White House, further enhancing strategic cooperation between the two nations. Sources indicated that discussions are underway for a potential meeting between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump on the sidelines of the AI Summit in Paris on February 11-12.
