Jaishankar Heads to the US for Critical Minerals Ministerial
S Jaishankar, India's Minister of External Affairs, will be traveling to the US for a three-day visit from Monday to Wednesday. He will be participating in the Critical Minerals Ministerial meeting organized by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The journey holds considerable importance as both nations aim to invigorate trade discussions that have slowed due to Washington's demand for India to cease buying Russian oil, along with concerns about US market entry in industries such as soybean and corn.
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The External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, is scheduled to travel to the United States from February 2-4, 2026, to take part in the Critical Minerals Ministerial hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. This Ministerial is set to address topics such as supply chain resilience, clean energy transitions, and strategic collaboration concerning critical minerals, according to the Ministry of External Affairs.
Throughout his visit, the Minister of External Affairs will engage in discussions with high-ranking officials within the United States administration. The conversations could be enhanced by the recent unveiling of India's FY27 Union Budget, which introduced various initiatives specifically catering to US interests. These initiatives include tax exemptions for foreign data centers until 2047, the liberalization of the nuclear and aviation industries, as well as reduced restrictions in the clean energy and healthcare sectors.
The trade ties between India and the US have suffered due to the imposition of significant tariffs by Washington on a wide range of Indian products in August 2025.
A 25 percent retaliatory tariff was implemented as part of a larger US strategy targeting nations with substantial trade surpluses or perceived obstacles to trade, while an additional punitive duty was imposed due to India's consistent procurement of Russian oil.
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The US contends that India's acquisition of Russian crude oil directly supports Russia's military actions in Ukraine. India has notably decreased its procurement of oil from Russia starting December 2025, yet continues to engage with entities not subject to sanctions.
The government of New Delhi has consistently emphasized its commitment to complying with sanctions targeting specific Russian oil companies, stressing that its broader energy acquisition strategy considers global markets and the welfare of Indian consumers.
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Indian officials previously stated that a trade agreement between India and the US will only come to fruition if Washington addresses both reciprocal tariffs and the punitive tariffs related to Russian oil purchases.