Jaishankar heads to US for talks on ‘strategic cooperation in critical minerals’

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, is en route to the United States for what’s shaping up to be a defining diplomatic engagement early this year. Set against simmering trade tensions and long-pending negotiations, Jaishankar’s visit aims to recalibrate the India-US relationship by focusing on critical minerals.

Scheduled to attend the Critical Minerals Ministerial on February 4, Jaishankar will participate in discussions hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio that revolve around securing resilient global supply chains for minerals vital to technology, defence, energy transition and economic security.

Talks on the margins and unresolved trade

The Washington trip transcends a single meeting. Jaishankar is also expected to hold bilateral talks with Rubio on the sidelines of the ministerial, a signal that both sides want to keep strategic dialogue alive despite ongoing disagreements.

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The backdrop is a complex one. India and the US have been negotiating a bilateral trade deal for months, but progress has been slow. Multiple rounds of talks last year brought little breakthrough, particularly due to disagreements over market access and tariff structures. In this context, the tariff issue and broader economic disagreements still loom over the relationship even as diplomatic channels stay open.

Joining strategic frameworks

A key anticipated outcome of the visit is India’s decision to join Pax Silica, a US-led initiative aimed at bolstering secure supply chains for critical technologies, from semiconductors to advanced manufacturing. Current members include the UK, Japan, Israel and Australia. India’s involvement is being watched closely by analysts as a strategic move to align with global partners on economic security and technology resilience.

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In recent weeks, Jaishankar has been actively engaging US counterparts at home, including with a US Congressional delegation on trade, security and critical technologies.