Modi, Rubio discuss bilateral ties, West Asia crisis; Invites PM to White House

“US relationship with India is ‘incredibly important’, promised ‘more exciting and new announcements’”

By Ekamjit Singh Brar

New Delhi, May 23

Looking to repair strained ties, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday said the US relationship with India is “incredibly important” and promised “more exciting and new announcements” in the coming months to strengthen ties. Rubio was speaking at the opening of a new annex building at the US Embassy here this afternoon, and said the US-India relationship is the “cornerstone” of the US approach to the Indo-Pacific. “The relationship with India is an incredibly important one, and it’s the reason why I’m here on this visit — to reaffirm those ties and build upon them.” “In the months ahead, we’re going to have even more exciting and new announcements about the development and the strengthening of the relationship between the two countries,” Rubio added. He was speaking at the embassy shortly before calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi for more than an hour. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval were present at the meeting. India and the US will continue to work closely for the global good. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, after Rubio briefed him on the West Asia crisis and bilateral cooperation in defence, strategic technologies, trade and energy security. Rubio, who met Modi shortly after landing in New Delhi, invited the Prime Minister on behalf of President Donald Trump to visit the White House in the “near future”, according to US Ambassador Sergio Gor.

The US Secretary of State’s four-day India trip is largely seen as an attempt to recalibrate bilateral relations that have faced headwinds since mid-last year.

After the meeting, Modi posted on X: “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.” At the meeting, Rubio reportedly pitched supply crude oil from the US New Delhi is facing an energy crisis after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and on-and-off sanctions on purchasing Russian crude. Rubio arrived in India the same day state-owned oil marketing firms raised fuel prices for the third time since May 15 to offset losses from buying costly fuel and selling it cheaper to consumers.

Rubio had arrived in Kolkata on Saturday morning and visited Missionaries of Charity, the organisation once run by Mother Teresa. Its licence to receive donations under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) was first revoked and then restored in 2022. On the Quad meeting scheduled for May 26, Rubio said, “We wanted to do it here, not just because of our commitment to that structure, but as a tangible sign of what an important role India plays for the United States and in our posture and approach to the Indo-Pacific.” He added that the relationship between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Modi anchors the partnership. “It’s a personal relationship. The connection between them, and I think that’s incredibly important.” He described Trump and Modi as “two very serious leaders who are focused not just on the short term, but on the long term, and so I think that is important to note because it’s a key part of the foundation of the relationship between our countries.”