India and the US Hold High-Level Talks on Economic and Security Cooperation

Melbourne, February 5: United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Wednesday held talks with India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, highlighting the importance of securing global supply chains and strengthening cooperation on economic and national security issues.

In a post on X, Bessent said he enjoyed the meeting with Jaishankar and that their discussions covered the need to secure supply chains along with other national and economic security matters of mutual interest.

Jaishankar, in his own post, said he was pleased to meet Bessent in Washington, DC, and described the discussion as useful in advancing the India–US economic partnership and strategic cooperation.

S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hold wide-ranging talks on trade, energy, defence, and technology as part of the India–US strategic partnership. Photo: Facebook

Later in the day, Jaishankar also met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The two leaders held wide-ranging talks covering bilateral cooperation as well as regional and global issues.

According to Jaishankar, key areas of the India–US Strategic Partnership discussed during the meeting included trade, energy, nuclear cooperation, defence, critical minerals, and technology. Both sides agreed on the need for early meetings under various bilateral mechanisms to further advance shared interests.

(ANI)