External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday in Kuala Lumpur during the ASEAN Summit. The meeting focused on enhancing India-US relations and addressing significant regional and global issues. Jaishankar expressed his satisfaction with the discussions, stating, "Glad to meet @SecRubio this morning in Kuala Lumpur. Appreciated the discussion on our bilateral ties as well as regional and global issues."

This meeting comes as both nations are nearing the finalisation of a bilateral trade agreement, with five rounds of negotiations already completed. Officials have indicated that the agreement is close to being concluded. The discussions are particularly important as India and the US have faced tensions due to US tariffs on Indian goods, which India has described as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable."

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal recently highlighted that India will not rush into trade agreements that could limit its options. He stated, "Trade agreements are about more than just tariffs or market access," emphasising the importance of trust and long-term relationships in trade.

Jaishankar also held separate talks with leaders from Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand on the same day. Malaysia, as the current chair of ASEAN, is hosting this year's summit and related meetings. The ASEAN bloc, comprising 11 nations, plays a crucial role in regional diplomacy, engaging with various dialogue partners, including India, the US, China, Japan, and Australia.