S Jaishankar Raises US Visa Delays With Secretary Of State Marco Rubio Amid Strong India-US Relations

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently met with the new US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio. During their discussions, Jaishankar raised concerns about the significant delays faced by Indian citizens in obtaining US visas. He described this as a pressing issue that needs immediate attention. He also highlighted the strong trust between India and the United States, acknowledging the robust bilateral relationship.

Jaishankar expressed that visa delays are a widespread concern in India. He noted that these delays negatively impact business and tourism, which are crucial for fostering people-to-people interactions. "They in many ways constrain the people to people interactions, which is the foundation of our relationship. When I spoke about the strong trust between us, I think we would like to translate the trust more and more into an actual partnership," he said.

Strengthening Bilateral Ties

In his discussions with Rubio and Waltz, Jaishankar emphasised a shared approach towards global issues based on national interests. "We have a very strong degree of trust today between India and the United States. A very high level of convergence of our interests and a sense that while we serve our national interest, while we build our bilateral partnership, definitely on regional issues and global issues, there is a lot of good that we can do," he said.

The Trump administration's eagerness to include India in its inaugural events was noted by Jaishankar. This signifies prioritising bilateral relations further. He mentioned that ties are being strengthened on an already solid foundation laid by previous efforts from both sides.

Quad Initiatives

Jaishankar shared his impressions from meetings with US officials, noting their keen interest in advancing Quad activities. "If I were to share my overall impressions, I would say one, it was very keen. It was very clear that the Trump administration was keen to have India present at the inaugural itself. They're clearly prioritising the bilateral relationship," he stated.

The minister also remarked on how initiatives taken by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi have matured over time. "President Trump and Prime Minister Modi at that time took a number of initiatives, and we have seen that mature in many ways," he added.

The current administration shows a strong willingness to reciprocate India's desire to enhance Quad activities further. This reflects a mutual commitment to intensifying cooperation within this strategic framework.