External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is expected to visit the US next week to attend the Critical Minerals Ministerial Meeting, the first high-level meeting hosted by the US Secretary of State.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is expected to visit the US next week to attend the Critical Minerals Ministerial Meeting. This meeting, which will be held in Washington, DC, will be the first high-level meeting hosted by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Jaishankar and Rubio are also expected to discuss other issues on the sidelines of the meeting.

The Critical Minerals Ministerial Meeting aims to bring together countries around the world to enhance cooperation to secure the supply chain of critical minerals, including essential materials like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, which are the foundation of everything from electric vehicles and renewable energy infrastructure to defense systems. 

This high-level meeting is taking place at a time of heightened tension between

India and the United States regarding the trade deal. It is believed that Jaishankar's visit to the US could serve as an attempt to ease the tension in their relations. The possibility of a meeting between PM Modi and Donald Trump could also be discussed. Sources suggest that Jaishankar's visit to the US would be a clear indication that the rift between the two countries has been resolved.

Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar's visit to the US comes at a time when India recently signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with

the European Union. This agreement is considered significant amid US pressure. This agreement will provide Indian companies with preferential access to specific markets. It will also reduce tariffs on "Made in India" medical devices. Furthermore, sectors such as chemicals, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, soaps, and detergents will experience rapid growth, significantly increasing production capacity and developing MSME clusters.