New Delhi — External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held high-level talks with US Senator Steve Daines on Sunday, underscoring India's commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with the United States. The meetings, occurring alongside strategic discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio earlier in the week, signal renewed momentum in India-US diplomatic engagement amid ongoing trade negotiations and geopolitical cooperation.
Key Facts
• External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met US Senator Steve Daines on January 18, 2026, in New Delhi, discussing bilateral relationship and strategic cooperation
• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held his first conversation with Jaishankar on January 13, 2026, covering trade, critical minerals, defense, civil nuclear cooperation, and energy
• US Ambassador Sergio Gor presented his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu on January 14, 2026, marking the formal beginning of his tenure
Jaishankar opened the meeting with Senator Daines by emphasizing the breadth of India-US engagement, describing their discussion as
The dialogue reflected both nations' determination to deepen partnership across multiple sectors, signaling strong political backing from Republican leadership for enhanced cooperation.
Indian envoy Kwatra had previously met with Senator Daines on Thursday, preparing ground for the ministerial-level engagement. These back-to-back meetings demonstrated coordinated diplomatic efforts to maintain momentum in bilateral discussions and address mutual concerns head-on.
Rubio's call with Jaishankar earlier in the week had centered on concrete cooperation areas. Both leaders discussed critical minerals sourcing, with the US particularly interested in leveraging India's resources and technological capabilities to build resilient supply chains independent of adversarial nations.
Civil nuclear cooperation emerged as a priority following India's enactment of the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy bill. The US expressed keen interest in capitalizing on this legislative breakthrough to expand American companies' access to India's growing nuclear energy market and advance shared energy security goals.
Trade negotiations remain central to the India-US relationship, with both sides preparing for a comprehensive meeting scheduled for next month. However, underlying tensions persist, particularly over India's 30 percent tariff on yellow peas, which US lawmakers argue disadvantages American pulse crop producers in the Indian market.
Senators Steve Daines and Kevin Cramer, representing major US pulse-producing states Montana and North Dakota, had written to President Trump on January 16, requesting intervention on behalf of American farmers. Their letter invoked precedent from Trump's first term when the President personally raised the issue with Prime Minister Modi, resulting in favorable outcomes for US producers.
India currently faces US tariffs of 50 percent over concerns regarding its Russian oil purchases. These trade frictions underscore the complex balancing act both nations must perform, simultaneously pursuing deeper partnership while protecting domestic economic interests and geopolitical positions.
Jaishankar posted on X, reflecting the positive tenor of diplomatic engagement despite underlying commercial disagreements.
The appointment of Ambassador Sergio Gor signals Washington's commitment to deepening engagement with New Delhi. Gor, taking charge as the Trump administration's representative, has explicitly prioritized strengthening security, trade, energy, and technology partnerships as central to his mission, positioning the bilateral relationship as defining for the 21st century.
These diplomatic developments occur at a critical juncture when both nations seek to finalize a comprehensive trade agreement. The convergence of high-level political engagement, strategic dialogues on defense and energy, and parallel discussions addressing agricultural concerns suggests that 2026 will be a pivotal year for India-US relations, potentially reshaping economic and security architectures in the Indo-Pacific region.
Do You Know?
India is the world's largest consumer of pulse crops, accounting for nearly 27 percent of global consumption, making it a crucial market for US farmers from Montana and North Dakota who together produce the majority of American pulse crops destined for Indian markets.
Key Terms
• Civil Nuclear Cooperation: Government-to-government agreements allowing civilian nuclear technology transfer, uranium fuel supply, and joint development of nuclear energy infrastructure between two nations
• Critical Minerals: Essential raw materials like lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements vital for manufacturing batteries, electronics, and defense systems that countries seek to secure through supply chain diversification
• Tariffs: Government-imposed taxes on imported goods designed to protect domestic industries, with the US imposing 50 percent duties on Indian goods and India implementing 30 percent tariffs on American agricultural products
• Pulse Crops: Legume vegetables including chickpeas, lentils, and yellow peas used extensively in Indian cuisine, with Montana and North Dakota supplying significant quantities to the Indian market
• Indo-Pacific Strategy: US and India's shared commitment to maintaining freedom of navigation, regional stability, and democratic governance across maritime Southeast Asia and the Indian Ocean
Asia91 Original