New Delhi, May 24 — U.S. Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio met India’s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval to discuss deepening cooperation on defence, security and strategic technologies, including the new TRUST initiative. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the talks reviewed ongoing collaboration and reaffirmed the high priority both countries place on the India–U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.
According to MEA and U.S. Embassy posts on X, the two leaders exchanged views on regional and global developments affecting international security and stability. Their discussions covered counterterrorism cooperation, regional stability and strengthening U.S.–India strategic coordination across the Indo-Pacific.
TRUST (Transforming the Relationship Utilising Strategic Technology) is the successor to the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET). Announced during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Washington visit on February 13, 2025, TRUST broadens bilateral work in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, critical minerals, biotechnology, energy, space and supply-chain resilience. A central element is the AI Infrastructure Roadmap, designed to promote investment, market access and development of U.S.-origin AI systems in India. The initiative is jointly overseen by the national security advisors of both countries and is embedded within the wider Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.
Before meeting NSA Doval, Secretary Rubio met External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for what the EAM described as a wide-ranging review of the partnership, touching on trade, energy, defence and security, critical minerals, AI, nuclear cooperation, people-to-people ties, counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics.
Both sides provided public readouts and held a press briefing after the meetings. Rubio, on a four-day visit to India, is scheduled to participate with Jaishankar and counterparts from Australia and Japan in the QUAD Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi on May 26. India will host the high-level QUAD security dialogue to address the shifting security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific and rising tensions in West Asia.
