Jaishankar, Rubio Push for Defence Pacts and Near-Final Trade Deal at Manila Meeting

Manila, July 2026 : India and the United States on Wednesday gave fresh momentum to their expanding strategic partnership as External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio agreed to expedite the finalisation of key defence agreements and work towards concluding an interim bilateral trade deal that Washington described as “almost complete.”

The high-level meeting took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ meetings in Manila, where the two leaders also reviewed regional security developments, particularly the evolving situation in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific. The discussions reflected the growing convergence between New Delhi and Washington on strategic, economic and security issues amid an increasingly complex global geopolitical environment.

According to an official readout issued by the US State Department, Rubio and Jaishankar held wide-ranging discussions covering regional stability, defence cooperation and trade negotiations.

“Secretary Rubio met today with Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar in Manila. The Secretary and Minister Jaishankar discussed recent developments in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in the official statement.

A major focus of the bilateral talks was defence cooperation, with both sides reviewing progress on agreements aimed at strengthening military collaboration between the two democracies.

“The Secretary and Minister Jaishankar discussed finalising key defence agreements in fulfilment of commitments made between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year,” the State Department said.

The defence dialogue is part of the broader strategic partnership that has witnessed steady expansion in recent years through increased military exercises, defence technology cooperation, intelligence sharing and enhanced interoperability between the armed forces of both countries. India and the United States have also deepened cooperation under the Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, making defence ties one of the strongest pillars of their bilateral relationship.

Trade also featured prominently during the meeting, with both governments expressing optimism about concluding an interim trade agreement that has been under negotiation for several months.

“The Secretary and Minister Jaishankar agreed on the importance of finalising the interim trade deal, which is almost complete,” the US State Department said, indicating that negotiations have entered their final stages.

The proposed agreement is expected to address market access, tariff-related concerns and trade facilitation measures, while laying the groundwork for a broader bilateral trade framework in the future. Strengthening commercial ties has become a priority for both governments as India and the United States seek to expand economic cooperation amid shifting global supply chains and growing investment opportunities.

The bilateral engagement coincided with the meeting of the Quad Foreign Ministers, comprising India, the United States, Australia and Japan. The four countries reaffirmed their shared commitment to maintaining a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific while expressing strong support for ASEAN’s central role in the regional architecture.

In a joint statement issued after the Quad meeting, the four ministers described themselves as “deeply invested in the region’s success” and pledged to work closely with ASEAN member states in promoting regional peace, security and prosperity.

“As ASEAN Comprehensive Strategic Partners, we, the Secretary of State of the United States and the Foreign Ministers of Australia, India and Japan, met today in Manila to reaffirm our commitment to strengthening a free and open Indo-Pacific and our unwavering support for ASEAN unity and centrality,” the statement said.

The Quad leaders discussed expanding cooperation across several strategic sectors, including maritime security, transnational crime, economic resilience, critical and emerging technologies, cyber security, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.

The ministers emphasised that maintaining peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific maritime domain remains essential for ensuring regional security and sustained economic growth.

“We are united in our conviction that peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific maritime domain underpin the security and prosperity of the region,” the joint statement added.

Separately, Secretary Rubio used the ASEAN meetings to reiterate Washington’s long-term commitment to Southeast Asia, describing ASEAN as the United States’ principal platform for engagement in the Indo-Pacific region.

Addressing the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with the United States, Rubio said the Trump administration remained firmly committed to deepening ties with the regional bloc.

“As President Trump stated at last year’s leaders’ summit, the United States is with ASEAN 100 per cent. This is the primary mechanism through which we engage the region,” Rubio said.

He also announced expanded US strategic investments across Southeast Asia, highlighting the region’s growing importance in global economic and geopolitical affairs. Describing Southeast Asia as “the engine of economic growth in the 21st century,” Rubio underscored Washington’s intention to strengthen partnerships in trade, infrastructure, technology and security.

The meeting between Jaishankar and Rubio reflects the continuing momentum in India-US relations, with both countries seeking to deepen cooperation across defence, trade, technology and regional security. As negotiations on the interim trade agreement near completion and key defence accords move towards finalisation, the two strategic partners appear poised to further strengthen their collaboration in addressing shared global and regional challenges.

Team Maverick.