In a significant diplomatic development, India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit, focused on bilateral relations between India and the United States, as well as pressing regional and global issues. Minister Jaishankar conveyed his positive impressions via a social media post, writing, “Glad to meet @SecRubio this morning in Kuala Lumpur. Appreciated the discussion on our bilateral ties as well as regional and global issues.” This encounter highlights the ongoing strategic dialogue between the two democratic powers.
Secretary Rubio, in previous statements, sought to allay any potential Indian apprehensions regarding the US’s enhanced engagement with Pakistan. He explicitly stated that the US’s strategic ties with Islamabad would not diminish its “deep, historic, and important” relationship with New Delhi. Addressing reporters, Rubio pointed out that India’s mature foreign policy allows it to engage with nations with which the US may not have direct relations. “I don’t think anything we’re doing with Pakistan comes at the expense of our relationship or friendship with India, which is deep, historic, and important,” he remarked.
Rubio elaborated on the US’s approach to international relations, stating, “We have to have relations with a lot of different countries. We see an opportunity to expand our strategic relationship with Pakistan, and that’s our job – to try to figure out how many countries we can find and how we can work with them on things of common interest.” He acknowledged India’s historical concerns stemming from past tensions with Pakistan but reiterated the importance of pragmatic global engagement. He also lauded India’s diplomatic prowess, noting that “the Indians are very mature when it comes to diplomacy and things of that nature.” His comments align with a period of increased US diplomatic activity with Pakistan.
Concurrently, India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) strengthened their cooperation at the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, participating virtually, addressed critical areas such as combating terrorism, expediting the review of the ASEAN-India Free Trade Agreement, and bolstering maritime security. This summit marked the Prime Minister’s twelfth engagement with ASEAN leaders. The discussions aimed at deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with a particular focus on addressing the global threat of terrorism and fostering unity in counter-terrorism efforts.