Marco Rubio visits India for key talks with PM Modi on QUAD, trade and defense amid rising US-Iran tensions. Photo: ANI.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Kolkata on Thursday. The top US diplomat and President Donald Trump’s close aide is on a four-day visit to India. The trip comes amid reports of US resuming military action against Iran. India and US relations have ebbed under Trump’s second presidential term, with Washington slapping 50% tariffs on Indian imports, which were later reduced to 18%. In the meantime, US has warmed its relations with Pakistan. Trump has repeatedly hailed Army Chief Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Rubio’s visit is seen as an opportunity to revive the strategic US-India relationship. According to reports, discussions will likely focus on QUAD alliance, defense, energy and trade ties between the two countries. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor welcomed Rubio, saying that US and India have an ambitious agenda ahead to strengthen the relations.
“Honored to welcome my friend [Rubio] to India. We have an ambitious agenda ahead, including the Quad Foreign Ministers Meeting, focused on advancing the US President’s vision for an even stronger US-India partnership. Looking forward to great conversations and making real progress together!,” Sergio Gor wrote on X.
Rubio is on a multi-city visit to India from May 23 to 26. His stopovers include Kolkata, Agra, Jaipur and New Delhi. In Kolkata, he visited Mother House, the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa.
“There’s a lot to work on with India, they’re a great ally and partner. We do a lot of good work with them so this is an important trip,” Rubio said before departing for India.
Rubio is expected to hold bilateral talks with India’s foreign minister S Jaishankar days before the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi on May 26. He will also meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi later today, on May 23 at 2 pm.
Gor in another X post shared that Rubio will meet PM Modi, adding that the talks will focus on trade, tech, defense, QUAD and other things. Indo-Pacific coordination, China’s influence and supply chain issues are also likely to be discussed during the visit.
Under Trump, US has been pitching its defense equipment to India, with POTUS claiming that India will be buying ‘a lot of US defense tech’. US has been a traditional defense partner for India, with New Delhi operating several of its platforms. These include Boeing P-8 Poseidon aircraft, MQ-9B SkyGuardian drones, M777 howitzers and C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft.
“Secretary Marco Rubio has landed in Kolkata. This is his first trip to India. Later today, we will call on Prime Minister @narendramodi in New Delhi. Trade, Technology, Defense, QUAD, and many other items to discuss and advance over the next few days!”
In the evening, Rubio will speak at and attend a reception at Roosevelt House hosted by Sergio Gor. The visit is closely watched as it comes days before the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting between India, US, Japan and Australia.
Also Read: Iran–US-Israel War LIVE And Latest Updates
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
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