Manila [Philippines], July 22 (ANI): US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held talks in Manila on Wednesday, specializing in latest developments in West Asia and the Indo-Pacific, whereas additionally reviewing progress on key defence and agreeing on the urgency of finalising an interim bilateral commerce deal.
According to a US State Department workplace readout attributed to Spokesperson Tommy Pigott, the 2 leaders mentioned advancing bilateral commitments made throughout talks between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi final 12 months.
‘The Secretary and Minister Jaishankar mentioned latest developments within the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific,’ the readout stated.
The discussions additionally centred on defence cooperation, with each side reviewing progress on agreements stemming from the Trump-Modi commitments.
‘The Secretary and Minister Jaishankar mentioned finalising key protection agreements in success of commitments made between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi final 12 months,’ the assertion stated.
Trade was one other key space of debate with Rubio and Jaishankar underscoring the necessity to conclude an interim bilateral commerce association.
‘The Secretary and Minister Jaishankar agreed on the significance of finalizing the interim commerce deal, which is nearly full,’ the readout added.
Meanwhile, as per Jaishankar, the minister on Wednesday met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Manila and mentioned key areas of the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership because the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (FMM) reconvened on the sidelines of the ASEAN-related conferences.
Sharing particulars of the assembly, Jaishankar stated in a submit on X, ‘Pleased to satisfy Sec Rubio of the USA right here in Manila. Our assembly targeted on areas that are precedence for the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, together with commerce & tariffs, power, defence & safety, vital minerals & synthetic intelligence.’
https://x.com/DrSJaishankar/status/2079789511605879173
The two leaders additionally exchanged views on regional, world and multilateral problems with mutual curiosity, Jaishankar added.’Also exchanged fast views on regional, world and multilateral problems with mutual curiosity,’ the External Affairs Minister stated.
The assembly passed off because the Quad grouping of India, the United States, Australia and Japan held discussions in Manila on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meetings.
Jaishankar is in Manila for a two-day go to to take part in a number of Foreign Minister-level conferences below the ASEAN framework, together with the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, East Asia Summit (EAS) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) conferences.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated the go to displays India’s continued engagement with ASEAN below the Act East Policy and its dedication to strengthening the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The Quad FMM was held on the sidelines of the ASEAN-related conferences, with discussions specializing in regional safety, maritime cooperation, rising applied sciences and developments within the Indo-Pacific.
In phrases of the India-US commerce deal, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal on July 13 stated India sees no hurdles in concluding a commerce settlement with the United States and each side are able to signal as soon as the timing is true.
Briefing mediapersons on commerce knowledge for June 2026, the Commerce Secretary stated, ‘We do not see any problem on India-US commerce deal negotiations.’ He added that discussions are transferring ahead inside an agreed construction and that engagement between the 2 sides has been common.
Outlining the latest spherical of conferences, the official said. ‘Indian group visited the US in May. US group visited in June.”Talks are happening in a correct framework,’ he stated.
On the broader commerce atmosphere, Agarwal famous ‘IEEPA tariff has gone…’, including ‘Now once more they’re in dialogue with different nations. They are having parallel investigation.’ India, he stated, is a part of the method. ‘We have joined consultations. All progressing in the correct instructions.’
Both governments have struck a optimistic tone publicly. ‘Both sides are saying issues are good…’ the Commerce Secretary stated, including that the important thing takeaway was on the standing of the deal itself. (ANI)