External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is set to meet United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). The meeting, scheduled for 11 AM US time (8:30 PM IST), comes at a sensitive moment as trade talks and the Trump administration’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee hike dominate discussions.
This will be the third in-person meeting between Jaishankar and Rubio this year. Their last interaction took place on July 1 in Washington during the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting, while the first came in January shortly after Rubio assumed his role. Today’s engagement, however, marks the first since relations between India and the US were tested in July over trade tariffs and India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. The situation escalated further when Washington imposed 50% tariffs on Indian exports effective August 27.
At the same time, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is in Washington leading negotiations on the broader India-US trade agenda. Talks resumed after Donald Trump confirmed his administration was pushing ahead with efforts to finalize a deal. Earlier this month, Trump expressed optimism about striking an agreement, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the “limitless potential” of the India-US partnership.
The most pressing issue at hand is the controversial $100,000 H-1B visa petition fee announced by the Trump administration on September 20. The White House has since clarified that the charge is a one-time fee, not an annual levy, and does not apply to existing visa holders returning to the United States. Despite this clarification, the announcement rattled technology giants such as Meta and Microsoft, raising concerns about the cost burden on highly skilled foreign workers.
Beyond trade and immigration, the UNGA’s 80th session features several high-profile events, including commemorations of the UN’s 80th anniversary, a Climate Ambition Summit led by Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and a special gathering marking 30 years since the Beijing Declaration on women’s rights.
With overlapping challenges of tariffs, immigration fees, and global diplomatic agendas, Jaishankar’s conversation with Rubio is expected to play a pivotal role in shaping the next phase of India-US relations. Both sides are under pressure to balance domestic political priorities while maintaining momentum in one of the world’s most important strategic partnerships.
