US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in India for a two-day visit, marking his first trip to the country since assuming office. On his first day, Rubio held extensive talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Delhi, focusing on strengthening bilateral relations and regional security.
Meeting with PM Modi
Later, Rubio met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence. The discussions covered a wide range of issues including the Quad partnership, trade, defense cooperation, and the Indo-Pacific region. PM Modi emphasized the importance of the India-US strategic partnership and welcomed Rubio's visit as a positive step.
Key Agendas
The visit also included discussions on counter-terrorism, climate change, and technology collaboration. Both sides expressed commitment to deepening ties. Rubio also visited Kolkata and Jaipur, where he met with business leaders and cultural representatives.
Quad and Bilateral Ties
Rubio's visit comes ahead of the upcoming Quad summit. He reiterated the US commitment to the Quad and its role in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific. The visit is seen as a move to strengthen the alliance and address common challenges.
During his stay, Rubio also paid tribute at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial and interacted with students at a local university. The visit concluded with a joint press conference, where both sides announced new initiatives in health and education sectors.
