Jaishankar Begins Three-Day US Visit Amid Strained India–US Relations

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar began a three-day visit to the United States on Monday, where he will participate in a Washington-led ministerial meeting focused on the global supply chain for critical minerals.

The visit is being closely watched as it comes at a time when India–US relations are facing increased strain. During his stay from February 2 to 5, Jaishankar is expected to hold bilateral discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior members of the Trump administration.

In an official statement, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said that Jaishankar will attend the Critical Minerals Ministerial convened by Secretary Rubio. The meeting will focus on strengthening supply chain resilience, supporting clean energy transitions, and enhancing strategic cooperation in the critical minerals sector.

The ministry also confirmed that Jaishankar will meet several senior US officials during the visit to discuss broader bilateral issues.

Earlier, on January 13, Secretary Rubio spoke with Jaishankar over the phone to review key areas of cooperation between the two countries. These included civil nuclear energy, trade negotiations, and regional security in the Indo-Pacific. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor described the conversation as positive and said both sides discussed next steps on trade talks, critical minerals, and the possibility of a high-level meeting in the coming month.

Relations between India and the US have faced challenges recently, particularly after President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent. This included an additional 25 per cent duty linked to India’s purchase of Russian crude oil. Differences have also emerged over issues such as immigration policy and Trump’s claim of having helped end the India–Pakistan conflict last year.

Despite the tensions, President Trump has expressed optimism about future ties. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on January 26, he said he was confident of reaching a “good” trade deal with India and praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “fantastic leader” and a “great friend.”

Trade negotiations between the two countries have been ongoing since before the tariff hike took effect. Formal discussions began in March–April last year after an initial approval for talks in February. However, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick recently claimed that a potential trade deal collapsed because Prime Minister Modi did not personally contact the US President.

Jaishankar’s visit is seen as an important step in stabilising relations and reopening dialogue between the two strategic partners.