NEW DELHI: After a turbulent 12 months, the United States and India sought to stabilize their relationship as Secretary of State Marco Rubio called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, delivering an invitation from President Donald Trump to visit the US “in the near future.”
Rubio Emphasizes Energy Cooperation
According to a US readout, Rubio and Modi discussed the situation in West Asia. Rubio stressed that America would not allow Iran to hold the global energy market hostage and highlighted that US energy products could diversify India’s energy supply.
Quad and Indo-Pacific Commitment
Speaking later at a US embassy event, Rubio, who will participate in the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting on Tuesday, described the relationship with India as “at the cornerstone of our approach to the Indo-Pacific.”
Invitation and Potential Visit
US Ambassador Sergio Gor announced the invitation after accompanying Rubio to what he called a “productive” discussion with Modi on deepening cooperation across security, trade, and critical technologies. While India is open to the idea of Modi traveling to the US, sources indicate the government will wait for more details on possible dates. Modi is likely to travel to Florida for the G20 summit in December. Officials were tight-lipped about the invitation’s implications for the Quad summit, for which Trump’s presence in India is long awaited. The Indian readout did not mention the invitation.
Modi’s Statement
“Happy to receive the US Secretary of State, Mr. Marco Rubio. We discussed sustained progress in the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and issues related to regional and global peace and security. India and the United States will continue to work closely for the global good,” said Modi in a post on X.
Discussions on Energy and Supply Chains
Rubio said he also discussed energy and efforts to secure supply chains with Modi. According to an Indian readout, Rubio briefed Modi on the US perspective on regional and global issues. Modi reiterated India’s consistent support for peace efforts and its call for peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy.
Context of Rubio’s Visit
Rubio’s visit occurs amid efforts to secure a US-Iran peace agreement and the threat of imminent US military action should this fail. The Indian readout also noted that Rubio briefed Modi on “sustained progress in bilateral cooperation” across defense, strategic technologies, trade, investment, energy security, connectivity, education, and people-to-people ties.
Rubio’s India Itinerary
Rubio began his India visit in Kolkata before arriving in Delhi for the meeting with Modi. His bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is scheduled for Sunday.
Quad and Leadership Ties
At the US embassy event, Rubio recalled his first assignment as secretary of state was a meeting of Quad foreign ministers. “We wanted to do it here, not just because of our commitment to that structure of work, but also as a tangible sign of what an important role India plays in the US, and in our posture, and in our approach to the Indo-Pacific,” he said. He added that this commitment is anchored in the relationship between Modi and Trump. “The connection between leaders is incredibly important. These are two very serious leaders that are focused not just on the short term, but on the long term,” Rubio said, underlining the significance of the $20 billion investment commitment from Indian companies in the US and the deepening of security partnership through military exercises in the Indo-Pacific.
