US And India Engage in Talks Amid Ongoing Trade Dispute

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Monday as both nations seek to advance trade discussions and ease friction over Washington’s recent tariffs.

Although limited details were disclosed, the meeting marked the highest-level engagement between the two countries since the United States imposed sanctions on Russian oil firms last week — a key source of India’s crude imports.

Jaishankar shared a photo of the meeting on social media, showing him and Rubio exchanging a handshake, and noted that he appreciated their discussion on bilateral relations as well as regional and global issues.

The talks were held on the sidelines of a Southeast Asian summit in Malaysia, attended in person by US President Donald Trump, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi participated virtually.

Relations between Washington and New Delhi have been strained since August, when the US raised tariffs to 50 percent and accused India of indirectly supporting Russia’s war in Ukraine through its continued purchase of discounted Russian oil.

President Trump, who spoke with Modi by phone last week, claimed the Indian leader had agreed to reduce oil imports from Russia — a statement that New Delhi has yet to confirm or deny.