India-U.S. Talks Jaishankar to Meet Rubio During UNGA 2025

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India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, is scheduled to meet U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, in New York on Monday, September 22, 2025. This meeting is part of the high-level 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). During this session, world leaders gather to discuss pressing global issues, and countries also hold separate talks on trade, security, and international cooperation.

This will be the first face-to-face meeting between Mr. Rubio and Mr. Jaishankar since a major trade issue arose. Earlier, the U.S., under President Donald Trump, had imposed extra tariffs on India for its purchase of Russian oil. The tariffs added 25% more duties on top of previous ones, bringing the total U.S. levies on India to 50%. This has been a major point of discussion between the two countries in recent months.

According to the official schedule released by the U.S. State Department, the India-U.S. meeting is planned for Monday morning in New York City. The last time these leaders met was in July 2025 in Washington, D.C., during the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.

On the same day, India and the U.S. are expected to hold discussions aimed at finalizing a trade agreement. A delegation led by India’s Union Commerce and Industries Minister, Piyush Goyal, will meet with the U.S. officials to push forward talks for a mutually beneficial trade deal. The Ministry of Commerce and Industry stated that during the last visit of U.S. trade officials to India on September 16, both sides had positive discussions and agreed to intensify their efforts to reach an agreement soon.

Mr. Jaishankar arrived in New York on Sunday, September 21, 2025, to begin his engagements during the UNGA week. His first bilateral meeting was with the Philippines’ Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Theresa P. Lazaro.

Speaking about the meeting, Mr. Jaishankar said that they discussed the recent state visit of Philippine President Bongbong Marcos to India. They also talked about cooperation in the United Nations and in the Indo-Pacific region. Ms. Lazaro expressed pleasure at meeting Mr. Jaishankar again and emphasized that their discussion reaffirmed the strong strategic partnership between India and the Philippines. They agreed to actively develop cooperation in political, defense, security, and maritime domains.

Throughout the UNGA week, Mr. Jaishankar will participate in a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings with leaders from different countries. These discussions are expected to cover a range of issues, including trade, global security, international cooperation, and regional challenges.

One of the most anticipated moments will be Mr. Jaishankar delivering India’s national statement at the General Debate on September 27, 2025. This speech will be given from the iconic green podium at the UNGA hall, a symbol of India’s voice on global issues.

The bilateral meeting with Mr. Rubio is especially important because it comes at a time when India and the U.S. are working to improve trade relations and resolve tensions caused by tariffs. Both sides aim to achieve a trade deal that benefits both nations. India hopes to protect its economic interests while the U.S. seeks to ensure fair trade practices.

In addition to trade, discussions may also include other areas such as security cooperation, energy, technology, and regional diplomacy. The meeting reflects the ongoing efforts by both countries to strengthen their partnership despite past challenges.

This meeting and the UNGA sessions provide an opportunity for world leaders to come together, share views, and take steps to manage complex international challenges. For India, these interactions are important to maintain strong global partnerships and to present its perspective on key issues such as energy security, regional stability, and economic growth.

Overall, this visit highlights India’s active role in global diplomacy and its commitment to engaging with key countries on critical matters of trade, security, and international cooperation. The outcome of these talks could shape India-U.S. relations in the coming months and influence broader geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond.