EAM Jaishankar’s US Visit: India’s External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar, is scheduled to visit the United States at the beginning of next month. He will participate in a ministerial meeting on critical minerals in Washington, D.C., on February 4th. The meeting will be hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The EAM’s upcoming US visit could prove decisive for India-US strategic relations. During this visit, India may join the economic initiative ‘Pax Silicona,’ which is considered a significant step in the context of changing global dynamics.
Critical Minerals: The New ‘Currency’ of the Future
- This ministerial meeting in Washington, D.C., on February 4, 2026, is extremely important. Critical minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements are essential for semiconductors, electric vehicles (EVs), and defense technology. Currently, China dominates the supply chain of these minerals.
- The main objective of this meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is to create a secure supply chain that is not dependent on a single country, namely China.
India-US Bilateral Trade and Other Important Issues:
The meeting between Jaishankar and Rubio is expected to cover not only minerals but also several other ‘complex’ issues.
- Trade Deal: For some time now, there has been tension between the two countries regarding trade tariffs. A limited trade agreement may be finalized during this visit.
- Discussions will also focus on advancing civil nuclear cooperation and exploring opportunities for American companies in India.
- In addition, talks may include joint manufacturing of defense equipment and energy security.
India and the US have set a target of increasing bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. However, trade negotiations between the two countries have not progressed significantly so far. Jaishankar’s visit aims to strengthen the foundation for achieving this goal.