What Did India and the US Discuss at the UN General Assembly? Insights from Jaishankar and Rubio's Meeting
Key Discussions Between India and the US at the UN
New York: On Wednesday, India and the United States engaged in discussions about their bilateral relationship, particularly focusing on India's apprehensions regarding the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. This meeting took place between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the UN General Assembly session.
Jaishankar, who arrived in New York on Sunday, is at the helm of the Indian delegation for the 81st UN General Assembly.
Following the meeting, Jaishankar shared on X, "It was a pleasure to meet @SecRubio during #UNHighLevelWeek. I reiterated India's concerns regarding the SRIA and we also touched upon the situations in the Gulf and Ukraine."
Good to meet @SecRubio of the US #UNHighLevelWeek
Reiterated India’s interests and concerns with regard to SRIA. Also discussed the Gulf and Ukraine situations.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) September 23, 2026
Recently, US President Donald Trump enacted the "Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026," which empowers him to impose tariffs of up to 100% on nations purchasing Russian oil and gas, impacting countries like China and India.
In response, New Delhi affirmed its commitment to safeguarding its economic interests and ensuring energy security.
After their meeting, Rubio remarked that India and the US are working together on significant regional issues.
"It was great to meet with Indian External Affairs Minister @DrSJaishankar in New York today," Rubio tweeted.
"We are enhancing the U.S.-India strategic partnership and aligning on key regional priorities and forthcoming multilateral initiatives," he added.
The two leaders had previously met in Manila in July, where they discussed various priority topics, including trade, tariffs, energy, defense, critical minerals, and artificial intelligence.
They also emphasized the necessity of finalizing the interim India-US trade agreement, as stated by the US State Department following their Manila discussions.