Amid escalating tensions between India and the United States, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met on Monday in New York. This meeting took place just days after US President Donald Trump announced a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas, a move that shook India's IT sector.
On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the two leaders warmly greeted each other, signaling their intent to maintain continuity in relations despite increasing economic differences.
Rubio emphasized the “critical importance” of the India-US partnership, promising to enhance cooperation in sectors like defense, trade, energy, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals. He highlighted India's vital position for America and stressed collaboration in the Indo-Pacific and Quad partnerships.
Source: aajtak
Jaishankar also regarded the dialogue as positive, posting on 'X': "Our talks spanned various bilateral and international issues. We agreed on the importance of sustained engagement in priority areas. We'll stay in touch."
Visa Fees Stir Ripples in Indian Market
Trump's abrupt visa fee announcement had a profound impact on the meeting. India is the largest beneficiary of H-1B visas. Last year, India secured 71% of all visas, whereas China obtained less than 12%.
Analysts suggest the sudden hike in visa fees could significantly increase the costs for Indian IT companies. This comes at a time when trade disputes between the nations are already a concern. In July, Trump imposed a 25% tariff on India's purchase of Russian oil. However, in September, the parties resumed discussions over a trade agreement.
Although facing these setbacks, diplomatic ties between Washington and New Delhi have remained intact. Rubio and Jaishankar last met in July during the Quad Foreign Ministers' meeting.
