India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar held a telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Tuesday, January 13, 2026. The high-level discussion covered a broad spectrum of strategic and economic matters, including bilateral trade, defense cooperation, critical minerals, nuclear cooperation, and energy. Minister Jaishankar conveyed that it was a "good conversation" and that both leaders agreed to remain in touch on these and other pertinent issues. The call comes at a crucial time for India-US relations, marked by ongoing discussions on trade agreements and recent tariff tensions. These tensions include the US imposing increased tariffs on India's Russian oil purchases and concerns over H-1B visa fees. The dialogue signals an effort to stabilize and advance the robust India-US partnership, with both sides emphasizing the importance of sustained engagement to progress on shared priorities. Notably, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who assumed office on January 21, 2025, following his nomination by President Trump and unanimous Senate confirmation, underscored India's critical importance to the United States. Discussions also touched upon broader regional and global issues, including cooperation in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific region, potentially involving initiatives like the Quad. This interaction reinforces the continued diplomatic engagement between the two nations on critical bilateral and international fronts.