New Delhi

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday embarked on a three-day visit to the United States to attend a Washington-led ministerial meeting on critical minerals supply chains.

The visit is being seen as an opportunity to engage with the US administration at a time when relations between the two strategic partners have witnessed a sharp downturn.

It is expected that Jaishankar will hold bilateral talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other senior officials of the Trump administration during the visit.

“External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will visit the United States from February 2 to 5 to participate in the Critical Minerals Ministerial convened by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio,” the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a statement.

According to the MEA, discussions at the ministerial will focus on supply chain resilience, clean energy transitions and strategic cooperation in critical minerals.

“During the visit, the external affairs minister will also hold meetings with senior members of the US administration,” it said.

India-US relations have been under strain following the Trump administration’s decision to double tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, including an additional 25 per cent duty, citing India’s purchase of Russian crude oil.

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Bilateral ties have also faced challenges over other issues, including former US President Donald Trump’s claim of having played a role in ending the India-Pakistan conflict in May last year and Washington’s revised immigration policy.