New Delhi, Jan 20 (NationPress) US Senator Steve Daines, a key member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has wrapped up his successful trip to India, which involved discussions in New Delhi with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, members of parliament, and leaders from both the US and Indian business communities, as reported by the US Embassy in India on Tuesday.

Reflecting on his visit from January 17-19, Daines remarked, "I traveled to India to reinforce the shared values and strategic partnership between our nations and to advocate for the interests of Montana’s pulse crop farmers. I appreciated Minister Goyal's willingness to hear our farmers’ concerns and will continue to collaborate with President Trump to prioritize this crucial issue."

As per the US Mission India, during his engagements with senior Indian officials and parliamentarians, Daines addressed the strengthening US-India defence cooperation, collaborative efforts to secure supply chains, and the significance of the US-India strategic partnership for ensuring shared security and maintaining a stable and open Indo-Pacific region.

"While in India, Sen. Daines advanced the interests of the Trump Administration and the people of Montana, including advocating for favorable pulse crop provisions in future trade agreements between the United States and India. Montana is the leading producer of pulse crops in the US, while India is the world’s largest consumer. Sen. Daines pushed for expedited discussions toward finalizing a fair and reciprocal bilateral trade deal," stated an announcement from the Embassy following the conclusion of the Senator's trip.

Daines also engaged with business representatives to emphasize the numerous opportunities for enhancing cooperation in advanced technologies and expanding trade and investment ties to boost prosperity in both the United States and India.

"As we aim to elevate the partnership between our two nations, I will ensure that senior government officials visit India regularly. As a prominent member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with significant experience in Asia, Senator Daines' interactions with both official and private sector stakeholders in New Delhi were vital in progressing our bilateral relationship," commented US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor.

Daines met with EAM Jaishankar in the capital on Sunday, where they discussed their bilateral ties and its strategic importance.

After their discussions, EAM Jaishankar expressed on X, "It was a pleasure meeting Senator Steve Daines this morning in Delhi. We had a broad and open discussion about our bilateral relationship and its strategic significance."

Recently, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with EAM Jaishankar over the phone, reviewing essential areas of cooperation, including civil nuclear energy, trade talks, and regional security in the Indo-Pacific.

"We discussed trade, critical minerals, nuclear cooperation, defense, and energy. We agreed to stay in contact regarding these and other matters," EAM Jaishankar noted on X following the call.

Gor described the conversation as positive.

"They discussed next steps regarding our bilateral trade negotiations, critical minerals, and a potential meeting next month," Gor stated on X.