S Jaishankar Holds Talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Bilateral Ties and Global Developments

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Kuala Lumpur on Monday to discuss the state of India–US relations and review key regional and global issues.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit. “Glad to meet @SecRubio this morning in Kuala Lumpur. Appreciated the discussion on our bilateral ties as well as regional and global issues,” Jaishankar wrote on X after the meeting.

The talks took place as India and the United States move closer to finalising their long-discussed bilateral trade agreement. Officials said the deal is in its final stages, with five rounds of negotiations already completed. The proposed agreement aims to strengthen trade ties, enhance technology and defence cooperation, and promote supply chain resilience between the two countries.

Jaishankar and Rubio also exchanged views on key geopolitical challenges, including developments in the Indo-Pacific, where both nations have continued to emphasise the importance of a free, open, and inclusive regional order.

A day earlier, Jaishankar met Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, and Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow for wide-ranging discussions on regional cooperation, connectivity, and economic growth.

The 11-member ASEAN bloc remains a key platform for India’s engagement in the Indo-Pacific, with dialogue partners including the US, China, Japan, and Australia working to strengthen collective stability and development in the region.