00:00These visuals that are coming in because this is from Gateway of India, the U.S. Secretary of State with
00:05his wife with that visit and also as we are looking at how this moment that is reflective of how
00:13the changing image, the transforming image that has come in for Bharat, the Naya Bharat and the manner in which
00:20is going to be significant, what it brings to the table.
00:24But after Mumbai, just in case you are wondering, why Jamnagar in Gujarat? What is so special that the U
00:31.S. Secretary of State has to go even to visit the Reliance refinery? There is a reason for it and
00:36I am going to break it down for you in this explainer. Look at that.
00:38Alright, so what we are looking at is how Reliance owns world's largest oil refinery in Jamnagar and the reason
00:46is because at a time like this, when there is shortage that we are looking at because of the kind
00:52of conflict in the world, Reliance investing in a new refinery in Texas as well.
00:57So it's not just about India. U.S. is looking about how that relationship is coming about. Energy and investment
01:02become central to America and India ties. America and Trump administration realizes that they need these investments right now. They
01:10need to secure their domestic interest. If the prices rise for them, the consumer is going to be hit hard.
01:16It will be tough for Trump administration to continue. America is looking to ease the diesel prices, looking at their
01:21domestic interest and boost the fuel supply as well.
01:28And that is the latest visual, ladies and gentlemen. The U.S. Secretary of State, Markud Rubio, meeting our External
01:33Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jayshankar. A little bit of our talk there, handshake, photo opportunity, smiles as well. But this
01:41is the moment. And I'll go across to Geeta for that.
01:45Geeta, explain the kind of relationship that the External Affairs Minister, S. Jayshankar and I can see, of course, our
01:52Secretary as well there, Mr. Misri, Vikram Misri, and of course, representing the other side delegation as well.
01:58How has S. Jayshankar and Marco Rubio's equation has been with its ups and downs that we've seen?
02:06I think it's complicated, so to say. It's not the best or the easiest. But what we're looking at is
02:14Ambassador of U.S. to India, Sergio Gore, the Foreign Secretary of India,
02:19Secretary Vikram Misri, Dr. Jayshankar, and Secretary of State, Rubio, all of them in that room in Bombay,
02:27where they're having a conversation right now as we speak. They're cordial, they're warm. Marco Rubio knows Jayshankar very, very
02:37well.
02:37Dr. Jayshankar has been a very important America hand. He's served in America. They've interacted at a personal level as
02:46well because he's been a congressman and a politician for many, many years, Marco Rubio.
02:53And so this is an important meeting that we're seeing at this point in time. Suffice to say, the fact
03:00that Dr. Jayshankar is in Bombay when Secretary of State is here.
03:05A quick succession of meetings over here where we're seeing him come to Delhi and now he's in Bombay. He's
03:13in Maharashtra. He's doing the Maharashtra Gujarat leg.
03:16Important also to see, Puja, the kind of significance that America attaches to India. The Secretary of State visiting New
03:26Delhi for an official visit and later, five months later, visiting Maharashtra and Gujarat very specifically for trade and business.
03:34Can you tell me more about this, Geeta? Because for the Indian viewer, the significance of a U.S. Secretary
03:39of State and then meeting the external affairs, how significant is that position?
03:42Many would say, well, he's not Donald Trump. He's not a senior minister, so to say.
03:46No, but he is. He's the foreign minister of America.
03:48Yes, correct. So, just if you can explain that for our Indian viewer as well.
03:51So, a Secretary of State is the foreign minister of America. So, these are two counterparts meeting. They're equals in
03:56their own governments.
03:58And the conversation that takes place is beyond trade. As Marco Rubio said, that that's not the State Department's ambit.
04:05Trade is the ambit of Lutnik and Besant, which is the Commerce Secretary and Commerce Ministry.
04:12So, he does know. He's privy to what's happening as is Ambassador Gore. So, they are looking at and the
04:20conversations will happen on that.
04:21But I think over here, what Dr. Jaishankar is going to do is raise the Lisegram Act.
04:29Apologies for intervening in there because I think of S. Jaishankar's statement. When the West thinks their problem is everyone's
04:35problem.
04:35It's not.
04:36And that statement has, I think, put, there was a little bit of tension after that statement. But have we
04:42been able to come to terms with what the West realized, what was being said at that point by India?
04:47Because there is now a reality check with the West. They realize how important India is and how much they
04:54require and need India. And that is really important over here.
04:58But then again, you know, the issues that are going to be raised are going to be beyond just the
05:03trade deal.
05:03For India, to impress upon Secretary Rubio that the sanctions bill that has been now, now is an act, is
05:13one that is detrimental to the ties itself.
05:18And therefore, while a waiver is being issued or given to India, it's a 60-day waiver. What happens after
05:25that?
05:25So there is, I'm sure there's going to be a conversation on the Lisegram Bill and how that impacts India,
05:32how that impacts India's image as well on how America is arm-twisting India when it comes to Russia and
05:40Russian oil imports.
05:41The position that India has will also be spelled again by Dr. Jai Shankar, where he's going to say exactly
05:48why Russia is important to India.
05:50And at a time when there are proposals of a conversation that Xi Jinping, Putin and Trump could have separately,
05:58imagine a G3 where it's okay for President Trump to have a conversation with President Putin,
06:05but not for Prime Minister Modi, that's not acceptable. So these are positions that India is going to really clearly
06:11state and put forth.
06:13Let's listen in again to Marco Rubio, this meeting with External Affairs Minister Jai Shankar, and what is his intention
06:20and on agenda for India?
06:23This is the most populous country in the world. It's the largest democracy in the world. It's an important commercial
06:28partner and business partner in the United States.
06:30We also do a lot of defense cooperation. They're a key member of the Quad. They're a strong strategic partner.
06:36So I actually don't think we've come enough, and I think we need to have more. And we have. We've
06:40had the Commerce Secretary's been here, right?
06:42We've had the FBI Director, the Vice President's come, the Attorney General. So this is a very important partner for
06:49us.
06:49As far as the trade agreement is concerned, obviously the State Department doesn't negotiate trade agreements, but we are very
06:54much involved in what's happening.
06:56In my perch as National Security Advisor, we care a lot about it. We're very, very close. I would say
07:00we're about as close as you can be without having an executed agreement.
07:03I think there's a small number of items left to wrap up, so I think that will happen shortly. We're
07:09hoping, which it should, and hopefully have some good news to announce fairly soon,
07:13and perhaps the leaders can sign it thereafter. So we feel very optimistic that we will have something in place
07:20here very soon.
