New Delhi- India on Thursday strongly denied a Bloomberg report claiming that National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio last year during a period of stalled trade negotiations between the two countries.
The report had alleged that India conveyed to Washington its willingness to delay finalising a trade agreement until the conclusion of US President Donald Trump’s term. However, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) firmly rejected the claims.
“There is absolutely no basis for that report. No such meeting or visit has taken place,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said while addressing media queries during the weekly briefing in New Delhi.
Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar highlighted the progress of the India-US trade agreement, stating that it is currently in its final stage of detailing. He noted that bilateral engagement between the two nations is gaining strong momentum.
Jaishankar made the remarks after concluding his official visit to the United States from February 2 to 4, during which he participated in the Critical Minerals Ministerial hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
“Concluded a productive and positive visit to the US. Thank Secretary Rubio for his warm hospitality,” Jaishankar posted on social media platform X.
He further stated that the upcoming trade agreement would mark a new phase in India-US relations. “The historic India-US trade deal is in the final stages of detailing and will be completed soon. It opens a new chapter in bilateral ties with vast opportunities. Our cooperation in critical minerals is also progressing rapidly. Engagements on strategic matters, defence, and energy are expected to continue in the coming days,” he added.
During his visit, Jaishankar held separate meetings with several senior US officials, including Secretary Rubio and US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The discussions focused on strengthening the India-US strategic and economic partnership.
Sharing details about his meeting with Rubio, Jaishankar described it as wide-ranging, covering bilateral cooperation as well as regional and global issues. He said that discussions included key aspects of the India-US Strategic Partnership such as trade, energy, nuclear cooperation, defence, critical minerals, and technology.
Both leaders agreed to accelerate follow-up engagements through various institutional mechanisms to advance shared interests.
According to the US State Department’s official statement, the two sides also discussed formalising collaboration in critical minerals exploration, mining, and processing, which has emerged as a crucial component of bilateral economic and strategic cooperation.
The meeting followed the announcement of a trade agreement between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump aimed at reducing trade barriers and enhancing market access between the two democracies.
Both Jaishankar and Rubio welcomed the agreement and emphasised the importance of expanding economic opportunities and strengthening energy security cooperation. They also reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing cooperation through the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, highlighting the significance of a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
Jaishankar also met US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent during his visit, describing the interaction as productive. He noted that discussions focused on further strengthening economic and strategic ties between the two countries.
The high-level meetings underline the expanding scope of India-US cooperation across diplomacy, security, trade, finance, energy, and emerging technologies. Both nations have identified critical minerals and advanced technology sectors as priority areas, especially in the context of clean energy transitions and advanced manufacturing.
Recent engagements between New Delhi and Washington also reflect continued dialogue on regional and global developments, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. Officials from both countries have described the partnership as a key pillar of their foreign policy priorities.
With inputs from IANS