‘Seen Him Number Of Times…’: Rubio Jokes About Jaishankar’s Busy Schedule Ahead Of Quad Meet

Last Updated:July 02, 2025, 09:13 IST

In opening remarks ahead of QUAD Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Rubio jokingly said that whenever he sees the news of Jaishankar, he is found to be in a different part of the world.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met with US State Secretary Marco Rubio on the sidelines of Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting (QFFM) in Washington (X)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar for his frequent and consistent work trips across the world, saying that he’s a “very busy guy."

In the opening remarks ahead of QUAD Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Washington, Rubio jokingly said that whenever he sees the news of EAM Jaishankar, he is found to be in a different part of the world.

“I’ve seen him a number of times in just six months on job. I was just telling him, he travels so much. Every time I see the news Dr. Jaishankar is in a different part of the world. He’s a very busy guy," Rubio said.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, along with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Japan’s Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, participated in the QUAD Foreign Ministers’ Meeting held at the US Department of State on Tuesday.

At the meeting, EAM Jaishankar said that the world must display zero tolerance against terrorism and asserted that “victims and perpetrators" must never be equated.

The ministers discussed a wide range of regional and global issues, with a strong focus on counterterrorism cooperation.

The QUAD, comprising India, the US, Australia and Japan, has emerged as a key grouping largely focusing on peace, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The QUAD foreign ministerial meeting is expected to prepare the ground for the grouping’s annual summit in New Delhi later this year.

Jaishankar, who is visiting the US from June 30 to July 2 at Marco Rubio’s invitation, also held a meeting with US Secretary of State US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth on the sidelines of the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting, during which they discussed bilateral partnership, shared perspectives on regional and global developments, and advancing the defence partnership between the two countries.

During the meeting with Rubio, EAM Jaishankar discussed bilateral partnership between both countries in the field of security, critical technologies, connectivity, energy and mobility.

Taking to X, S Jaishankar said, “A pleasure meeting US @SecRubio this afternoon, on the sidelines of Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting. Discussed our bilateral partnership, including trade, security, critical technologies, connectivity, energy and mobility. Shared perspectives on regional and global developments."

He also highlighted the strategic importance of India-US defence ties, describing them as “one of the most consequential pillars" of the bilateral relationship during the meeting with Hegseth.

Speaking during the meeting at the Pentagon, Jaishankar said, “I am here with you at the Pentagon because we believe that our defence partnership is, today, truly one of the most consequential."

Hegseth expressed enthusiasm about the growing defence partnership between the two countries. He highlighted the integration of US defence systems into India’s armed forces and outlined the goal of expanding industrial cooperation and co-production networks.

The US Defence Secretary further outlined the goal of expanding industrial cooperation and co-production networks.

“The US is very pleased for the successful integration of many US defence items… building on this progress, we hope we can complete several major pending US defence sales to India, expand our shared defence industrial cooperation and co-production networks, strengthen interoperability… and formally sign a new framework of US-India major defence partnership," Hegseth said.

Shobhit Gupta

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...Read More

Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben...

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Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

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News world ‘Seen Him Number Of Times…’: Rubio Jokes About Jaishankar’s Busy Schedule Ahead Of Quad Meet