NEW DELHI: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to India next week accompanied by a high-level business delegation to meet senior Indian officials, aiming to strengthen the bilateral strategic partnership and discuss regional, global, and enhanced energy cooperation issues. This marks Rubio’s second visit to India this year, following his trip in May where he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and attended the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting, coming at a time when US-India bilateral relations remain under strain.
Mumbai and Jamnagar on Rubio’s Itinerary
Rubio will travel to India from Uzbekistan—the first leg of his two-nation tour—and is scheduled to visit Mumbai and Jamnagar, the US State Department announced on Wednesday. While the official release did not provide exact dates for the India leg, sources familiar with the itinerary indicate he is expected to arrive in Mumbai on October 18. According to the US State Department, he will engage with senior government officials to “strengthen the US-India strategic partnership, exchange views on regional and global dynamics, and discuss prospects for enhanced energy cooperation.” Rubio will also interact with prominent corporate leaders to promote commercial investments and economic ties.
Over 200 Business Leaders to Accompany US Secretary of State
A commercial delegation comprising over 200 corporate executives will accompany Rubio on the visit. A major commercial event is slated to take place in Mumbai, where External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is expected to hold bilateral talks with Rubio on the sidelines.
US-India relations have faced turbulence in recent months over multiple issues, including the unpredictable trade and tariff measures of the Trump administration, the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act (SRIA)—which empowers President Donald Trump to impose duties of up to 100% on India over Russian energy purchases—Trump’s repeated claims regarding mediating a 2025 India-Pakistan ceasefire, and a recent US military strike on a merchant vessel off the coast of Oman that resulted in the deaths of three Indian seafarers.
For more details: Navamalayalam.com