U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio Visits India Before Quad Meeting
NEW DELHI — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio touched down in India on Saturday, gearing up for a key meeting next week with the foreign ministers from India, Australia, and Japan, part of the strategic group known as the Quad.
This marks Rubio’s first official visit to India at a time when the U.S. is eager to strengthen ties with New Delhi, especially after some tension resulted from previous U.S. tariff policies that impacted Indian exports.
Over the next four days, Rubio will embark on a multi-city trip, including a gala reception in the capital celebrating 250 years of U.S. independence. Prior to his visit, he remarked, “India is an important ally, and there’s much we can achieve together.”
Rubio began his journey in Kolkata, visiting the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity, established by Mother Teresa. His itinerary also includes stops in Agra and Jaipur, cities famed for their stunning landmarks.
In the afternoon, Rubio met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, discussing various regional and global matters, including the situation in West Asia. Modi emphasized the need for resolving conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy.
During their conversation, Rubio highlighted progress in areas like defense, trade, energy, and education, aiming to enhance cooperation between the U.S. and India.
U.S. Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, mentioned on social media that Rubio invited Modi to visit the White House soon. He described their meeting as productive, focusing on ways to strengthen security and trade ties.
On Sunday, Rubio is set to meet with India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. He will participate in the Quad meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday, where discussions will likely include concerns about China’s military activities in the South China Sea. China views the Quad as an effort to curb its influence and insists that its military presence is for defensive purposes.
Rubio’s visit follows his first formal engagement as Secretary of State, where he met with foreign ministers from the Quad nations earlier this year.
