Rubio Congratulates India on SHANTI
Discusses Nuclear Energy, Trade Ties with Jaishankar
Washington: United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke by telephone today with India’s External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, exchanging New Year greetings and reviewing key areas of bilateral cooperation, including civil nuclear energy, trade negotiations, and regional security.
According to a readout issued by the U.S. State Department, Secretary Rubio congratulated India on the enactment of the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India Bill, 2025 (SHANTI Bill), describing it as an important policy development.
The SHANTI Bill updates India’s nuclear regulatory framework by consolidating safety, licensing, and operational oversight under a single legal regime. The bill, which was passed by both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha during the 2025 Winter Session of Parliament and received presidential assent in December 2025, allows limited private sector participation in civil nuclear energy, strengthens the authority of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board, and establishes a tiered liability framework for nuclear incidents. It is intended to facilitate investment, support technological modernisation, and expand India’s nuclear energy capacity as part of the country’s broader clean energy and energy security objectives.
Secretary Rubio’s interest in building on the SHANTI Bill reflects the United States’ ongoing strategic and economic priorities in its partnership with India. Rubio highlighted the potential for the legislation to expand opportunities for American companies, enabling U.S. firms to participate in India’s civil nuclear sector under the updated regulatory framework. The conversation also emphasised the alignment of shared energy security goals, with both nations seeking to diversify energy sources, strengthen critical mineral supply chains, and support reliable, sustainable energy deployment.
This focus aligns with the broader context of U.S.–India civil nuclear cooperation established under the U.S.–India Civil Nuclear Agreement, commonly known as the Section 123 Agreement, first signed in October 2008. The agreement provides the legal framework for civilian nuclear cooperation between the two countries, allowing nuclear technology, materials, and fuel to be exchanged for peaceful purposes under safeguards and regulatory oversight. It has guided bilateral nuclear engagement for nearly two decades, facilitating civilian nuclear trade and collaboration while maintaining nonproliferation commitments.
In addition to energy cooperation, the call reflected ongoing engagement in strategic and economic areas. Examples include:
- Bilateral trade agreement negotiations, aimed at increasing market access, promoting exports, and strengthening investment flows between the two countries.
- Collaboration on critical minerals, which are essential for high-tech manufacturing, defence equipment, and renewable energy technologies.
- Ongoing initiatives to promote supply chain resilience and diversify energy imports.
- Dialogues on regional security challenges, including coordination on the Indo-Pacific, maritime security, and defence exchanges.
While these areas of cooperation continue, economic engagement is also influenced by ongoing U.S. tariffs on certain Indian exports, which have introduced challenges in trade negotiations. Tariff measures have affected costs for exporters and altered market dynamics, prompting India and the U.S. to continue discussions aimed at mitigating these impacts while advancing broader cooperation in critical minerals, energy, and technology. Tariffs have not halted high-level economic engagement but have shaped the pace and content of negotiations.
Secretary Rubio expressed interest in building on the SHANTI Bill to deepen U.S.–India civil nuclear cooperation, expand opportunities for American companies, advance shared energy security objectives, and strengthen critical mineral supply chains, the statement said.
The two leaders also exchanged views on regional developments, reaffirming the commitment of both the United States and India to a free and open Indo-Pacific, a cornerstone of their strategic partnership.
The call reflects continued high-level engagement between Washington and New Delhi across strategic, economic, and energy domains, with ongoing efforts to translate legislative, technological, and diplomatic frameworks into practical collaboration.
– global bihari bureau
