India, Feb. 4 -- India's EAM, S. Jaishankar, held a key meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington, focusing on strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the two democracies. The talks came right after a landmark trade agreement between India and the US, under which the US agreed to lower tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 18%, and ahead of the Critical Minerals Ministerial hosted by Marco Rubio.

The discussions covered a broad agenda, including cooperation on critical minerals, energy, defence, nuclear issues and technology, signalling both sides' interest in expanding their strategic and economic partnership.

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