India, US agree on sustained engagement amid strains over visas, tariffs

NEW YORK: Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed their commitment to “sustained engagement” during a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Monday.

The meeting comes at a sensitive time for US-India relations, following President Donald Trump’s recent decision to impose a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas—a move that has sparked concern in India. Tensions were already simmering after the US imposed additional tariffs on India over its continued purchase of Russian oil.

Despite these challenges, Jaishankar posted on X that he and Rubio had a “comprehensive discussion on bilateral and international issues of concern” and emphasized the need for continued dialogue to advance shared priorities.

This marks the first face-to-face meeting between Jaishankar and Rubio since July, when they participated in the Quad ministerial alongside counterparts from Japan and Australia. Both sides have sought to strengthen ties in light of shared strategic interests, particularly concerning China.