India and the United States signalled a renewed intent to refine and strengthen their strategic and economic relationship during a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur. On October 27, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with both sides reviewing bilateral ties, developments in the Indo-Pacific, and shared global concerns ranging from trade tensions to supply-chain resilience.
The interaction came at a crucial juncture. Five rounds of negotiations for an initial trade agreement between the two countries have already taken place, raising expectations that a breakthrough could be within reach. During the meeting, Jaishankar is understood to have conveyed that India welcomes closer cooperation but will not enter into any arrangement that limits its strategic autonomy or its ability to engage freely with other global partners.
The conversation with the United States was part of a broader diplomatic span for India at the summit. Jaishankar also held bilateral meetings with Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Thailand’s Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, and South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Hyun. These engagements covered a wide canvas of topics like technology partnerships, semiconductor and electronics cooperation, defence production, shipbuilding, and the strengthening of supply chains across the Indo-Pacific corridor.
Together, these talks reflect India’s dual-track diplomacy, nurturing deep strategic cooperation with the United States while simultaneously expanding partnerships across Southeast Asia under the “Act East” policy. At a time when the region is witnessing accelerated geopolitical and economic shifts, New Delhi is positioning itself not simply as a participant but as a shaping force.
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