Amid the H-1B visa controversy, US Secretary of State Rubio met with Jaishankar, saying India is important for the US…

New Delhi. Amid growing tensions between India and the US, Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met in New York on Monday. This meeting came just days after US President Donald Trump announced a $100,000 fee on new H-1B visas, which has shaken India’s IT sector.

At the meeting, which took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, the two leaders greeted each other warmly. Both countries wanted to convey a message of continuity in relations despite growing economic differences.

Rubio described the India-US partnership as “critical importance” and promised to further strengthen cooperation in areas such as defense, trade, energy, pharmaceuticals, and critical minerals. Rubio said that India holds a vital place for the US. They also emphasized working together in the Indo-Pacific and Quad partnerships.

Jaishankar also described the conversation as positive, posting on X, “Our conversation covered a number of bilateral and international issues. We agreed on the importance of continued engagement for progress in priority areas. We will remain in touch.”

Visa Fees Stir Indian Market
Trump’s sudden announcement of visa fees had a profound impact on the meeting. India is the largest user of H-1B visas. Last year, India received 71 percent of visas, while China received less than 12 percent.

Analysts believe the sudden increase in visa fees could sharply increase costs for Indian IT companies. This blow comes at a time when a trade dispute is already underway between the two countries. In July, Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on India for purchasing Russian oil. However, in September, the two sides resumed negotiations on a trade agreement.

Despite these setbacks, Washington and New Delhi have maintained diplomatic contact. Rubio and Jaishankar last met in July at the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting.