India Key Partner: US Secretary Marco Rubio

S Jaishankar Meets Marco Rubio: Amid tensions over the 50% tariff and now H-1B visas, Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met in New York on Monday. During this meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the two leaders greeted each other warmly. Following the meeting, Rubio commented on India-US relations, stating that India is very important to the United States. Rubio also commented on the trade deal with India.

Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said in a post on Instagram, "It was good to meet in New York. Our conversation covered a number of bilateral and international issues of current concern. We agreed on the importance of continued cooperation for progress in priority areas. We will remain in touch."

Rubio described the India-US partnership as "critical importance" and promised to further strengthen cooperation in areas such as defense, trade, energy, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals. Rubio stated that India holds a vital position for the United States. He also emphasized working together in the Indo-Pacific and Quad partnerships.

Tensions between India and the United States have been escalating for the past month over the 50% tariff. Now, the situation is heating up over the H-1B visa. Trump announced a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas, causing a stir in India's IT sector. Trump's sudden tariff hike is significant, given that India is the largest user of H-1B visas. However, a meeting between the two countries may now provide a way to resolve some issues. A trade deal between India and the United States may also be negotiated.
Trump's Decisions Harming India
In the past few weeks, the Trump administration has taken a series of decisions directly harming Indian interests. First, a 25% tariff was imposed on August 7th. Then, an additional 25% tariff was imposed on the purchase of Russian oil on August 27th. Subsequently, the process of imposing restrictions on the Chabahar port began. Subsequently, new rules were enacted regarding H-1B visas, which are expected to have the greatest impact on Indian professionals.