New Delhi, February 2: India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is travelling to the United States to attend diplomatic engagements scheduled earlier this year. Against the backdrop of rising trade tensions and long-pending negotiations, the visit aims to recalibrate India–US relations with a focus on critical minerals.

Jaishankar is scheduled to participate in the Ministerial Meeting on Critical Minerals on February 4, hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The discussions will focus on securing resilient global supply chains for minerals essential for technology, defence, energy transition, and economic security.

The Washington visit goes beyond a single meeting. Jaishankar is also expected to hold bilateral talks with Rubio on the sidelines of the ministerial meeting, signalling that both sides are keen to keep strategic dialogue alive despite ongoing differences.

The backdrop remains complex. India and the United States have been negotiating a bilateral trade agreement for months, but progress has been slow. Several rounds of talks last year yielded limited results, particularly due to differences over market access and tariff structures. In this context, while diplomatic channels remain open, tariff-related issues and broader economic disagreements continue to affect the relationship.

One key expected outcome of the visit is India’s decision to join Pax Silica, a US-led initiative aimed at strengthening secure supply chains for critical technologies ranging from semiconductors to advanced manufacturing. Current members include the United Kingdom, Japan, Israel, and Australia. Analysts are closely watching India’s inclusion as a strategic move to align with global partners on economic security and technological resilience.

In recent weeks, Jaishankar has also been actively engaging with his US counterparts at home.