Jaishankar’s US visit comes at a critical moment as India recalibrates its strategic priorities following the India–EU trade deal and rising global trade tensions. While Washington plans quietly with regard to this visit, it sends layered signals. Days after the conclusion of a historic India-EU trade agreement with Europe, there is now a shift in momentum coming from western nations. Jaishankar’s US visit follows major shifts in India’s trade and supply-chain strategy. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar arrives at a time of increasing trade tensions between India and other nations. Therefore, his visit represents a thoughtful approach to diplomacy, rather than an ordinary bilateral visit with the United States. Today, global supply chains are central to major power struggles globally. In addition, critical minerals are becoming ever more important to define economic security and, therefore, define world power.
What India decides will ultimately define its alliances moving forward. Even though there are scheduled meetings during this trip, India has already started to plan its future direction carefully. This visit takes place duringa time when allies of the United States start to rethink their dependence on concentrated suppliers. Against this background, the political significance of Jaishankar’s meetings gains importance historically and geopolitically.
Critical minerals and Pax Silica shape Jaishankar’s US visit agenda
In Washington, Jaishankar will be participating in the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will host this meeting. The forum aims to build resilient supply chains for minerals that drive electric mobility, defense platforms, and clean energy. LITHIUM, COBALT, NICKEL, AND RARE EARTHS WILL BE THE MAIN TOPICS OF DISCUSSION. These materials are critical to enabling electric mobility, defense platforms, and clean energy.
India wants to reduce its exposure to the dominance of one country over the supply. China’s dominance over the processing capabilities of these materials is a concern for many economies. As a result of these concerns, there will be more cooperation rather than individual national security approaches.
India’s participation shows its alignment with the trusted-partner framework for developing and sharing critical minerals and materials. The timing of the visit also aligns with India’s joining Pax Silica. Pax Silica is a US-led initiative that seeks to develop an ecosystem for silicon and technology supply-chain security.
It will include Japan, Australia, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates. This participation will support India’s ambitions to develop a domestic electronics manufacturing base. In addition, it will enhance New Delhi’s strategy for clean energy transition. Therefore, minerals diplomacy is increasingly merging the two areas of economics and security.
Trade tensions, diplomacy, and the US equation
The visit comes after the India–EU Free Trade Agreement and unresolved tariff issues with the US. With the US still imposing substantial trade restrictions, Jaishankar is looking to correct that situation and possibly have a broader dialogue with US Secretary of State Rubio to address topics such as trade, defense, energy, and nuclear cooperation, which were previously discussed.
Both sides have a target of $500 billion for bilateral trade, which is supported by the inclusion of critical minerals as part of the expansion plan for trade and economic relations. The possibility of civil nuclear cooperation is still being discussed. India wants to strike a balance between having different relationships with different partners while also maintaining a good relationship with the US, and this visit will be a test of India’s diplomatic capabilities following the EU Free Trade Agreement. The message that New Delhi wants to send is one of having and maintaining strategic autonomy without having to maintain any strategic distance between India and the US.
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