Ties Between US and India Under Spotlight as Rubio, Jaishankar Meet in Malaysia

Amid growing trade tensions and US sanctions on Russian oil firms, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Monday in Malaysia to discuss bilateral and global issues.

The meeting, the highest-level contact since Washington’s latest sanctions aimed to mend strained relations following President Donald Trump’s decision to raise tariffs on Indian goods to 50 percent.

Jaishankar shared a photo of the discussion, saying he appreciated the “constructive exchange” on key international matters.

Held on the sidelines of a Southeast Asian summit, the meeting comes as both countries navigate friction over India’s purchase of discounted Russian oil, a move the US says indirectly supports Moscow’s war efforts. New Delhi has yet to comment on Trump’s claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to cut those imports.