EAM S Jaishankar embarks on three day visit to US

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday embarked on a three-day visit to the United States to attend a Washington-led ministerial meeting focused on the critical minerals supply chain, according to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).In an official statement, the MEA said Jaishankar will visit the US from February 2 to February 5 to participate in the Critical Minerals Ministerial, convened by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The meeting will focus on strengthening supply chain resilience, advancing clean energy transitions, and enhancing strategic cooperation in the critical minerals sector.
During the visit, Jaishankar is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with senior members of the US administration, including Secretary of State Rubio, to discuss a range of bilateral and global issues.The visit comes at a time when India–US relations have witnessed heightened tensions in recent weeks. Ties have come under strain following the decision by the Trump administration to double tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, including an additional 25 per cent duty linked to India’s purchase of Russian crude oil.Apart from trade-related concerns, differences have also surfaced over a range of issues, including remarks by US President Donald Trump on the India–Pakistan situation last year and Washington’s revised immigration policies.Jaishankar’s engagements during the visit are expected to provide an opportunity for both sides to exchange views on these developments while continuing dialogue on strategic cooperation, particularly in emerging and critical sectors.