US and India seek thaw as trade rift lingers at Malaysia summit
“Rubio and Jaishankar confer amid tariff tensions.”
Key points
- Rubio and Jaishankar confer amid tariff tensions.
- Meeting follows US sanctions on Russian oil firms.
- Washington presses New Delhi over Russian crude purchases.
- Both sides keep channels open to manage the rift.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Monday as Washington and New Delhi looked to steady relations strained by tariffs and Russia-related sanctions. Jaishankar said he appreciated a conversation covering bilateral ties alongside regional and global issues.
The meeting, held on the margins of a Southeast Asian summit in Malaysia, marked the highest-level contact since the United States targeted Russian oil companies—key suppliers for India—with sanctions. Tensions have risen since August, when the US lifted tariffs on Indian goods to 50% and publicly criticised India’s purchases of discounted Russian crude.
President Donald Trump has said Prime Minister Narendra Modi indicated a willingness to reduce Russian oil imports, a claim India has not confirmed. New Delhi’s foreign ministry has maintained its priority is protecting Indian consumers. Despite the friction, both sides signalled interest in continuing trade talks to prevent further escalation and to stabilise a strategically important partnership.
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