US secretary of state Marco Rubio stressed the critical importance of the US relationship with India on Monday, after President Donald Trump’s move to impose a US$100,000 fee for new H-1B visas dealt a blow to Indian tech firms.
Rubio met with Indian foreign minister S. Jaishankar on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York and the state department said they agreed their two countries would “continue working together to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific region, including through the Quad.”
“Secretary Rubio, reiterating that India is a relationship of critical importance to the United States, expressed his appreciation for the Indian government’s continued engagement on a number of issues including trade, defence, energy, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, and other items related to the bilateral…