Jaishankar, Rubio could meet on UNGA sidelines

In an effort to advance the recent improvement in their ties, New Delhi and Washington are planning a high-level meeting between external affairs minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, people aware of the matter said on Sunday.

- Shashank Mattoo

The meeting is expected to take place in the last week of September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly High-Level Week in New York. The people cited above explained that the meeting will continue efforts to improve relations and bridge divides between the two countries.

This will be the first in-person meeting between the two leaders since tensions between India and the United States rose in July over trade tariffs and India’s purchase of Russian oil. Prior to this planned meeting, Rubio and Jaishankar met in Washington in January and early July.

Their upcoming meeting will occur against the backdrop of an improving relationship between New Delhi and Washington. Last week, US President Donald Trump announced that the two sides would restart stalled trade talks and expressed confidence that there would be “no difficulty” in reaching a deal.