Rubio calls India-US partnership among most important in talks with Jaishankar

Marco Rubio said the India-US partnership is among the world's most important during talks with S Jaishankar in New Delhi. His remarks underlined continued strategic momentum as the two sides discussed defence, trade, technology and regional issues.

In Short

• Talks with Jaishankar focused on defence, trade, energy and strategic tech
• Rubio rejects idea that ties need 'reinvigoration', says relationship is strong
• Rubio to attend Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting after stops in Agra and Jaipur

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday described the India-US relationship as one of Washington’s “most important” strategic partnerships as he held delegation-level talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. Rubio said the partnership between the two countries extended far beyond regional concerns and had the potential for cooperation across multiple parts of the world.

“It has already been a fantastic first day. We’re looking forward to our visits and our talks today and learning more about the country,” Rubio said at the start of the talks. “As you’ve highlighted, the United States and India aren’t just allies; we’re strategic allies, and that’s of critical importance,” he added.

Rubio said while Washington engages with countries across the world on a range of issues, its partnership with India was distinctive because of its global scope. “Our strategic partnership is what sets this relationship apart, because it’s not simply limited to a region. It extends to opportunities to cooperate globally in different regions of the world, and that includes potentially in the Western Hemisphere and places like that,” he said.

‘NOT ABOUT REINVIGORATING TIES’

The US Secretary of State also stressed that the bilateral relationship was already strong and did not require “restoration” or “reinvigoration”.

“We have a lot to discuss and a lot to work on. We are the two largest democracies in the world, and so that alone is a baseline for incredible cooperation,” Rubio said.

“We have so many common interests that it makes all the sense in the world for us to continue to build upon. This is not about restoring or reinvigorating. I’ve seen people use that terminology,” he added.

“This is about continuing to build on what is already a very solid and strong strategic partnership — one of the most important ones that we have, and one of the most important ones in the world.”

Jaishankar, in his opening remarks, described the India-US relationship as a “comprehensive global strategic partnership” with growing influence across regions and global affairs.

“We have a comprehensive global strategic partnership, which I think in plain language means that we have a very deep, very broad-based cooperation and a relationship that impacts and influences other regions and the world,” Jaishankar said.

“That is because we have converging interests on many issues and in many parts of the world. These are complicated times, but as strong partners, I’m very confident we’ll have very open and productive discussions,” he added.

DEFENCE, TRADE AND TECHNOLOGY IN FOCUS

The meeting came a day after Rubio held talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with discussions focusing on defence cooperation, trade, energy security, strategic technologies and regional developments.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Rubio briefed Modi on progress in bilateral cooperation across sectors including defence, trade and investment, connectivity, education and people-to-people ties.

The PMO said Rubio also shared the US perspective on several regional and global issues, including the situation in West Asia, while Modi reiterated India’s support for resolving conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy.

TRUMP INVITE FOR PM MODI

US Ambassador Sergio Gor said Rubio conveyed an invitation from US President Donald Trump for PM Modi to visit the White House in the near future.

Rubio arrived in India on Saturday and began his visit in Kolkata, where he visited the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity before travelling to Delhi.

The Secretary of State is scheduled to visit Agra and Jaipur before returning to the national capital for the upcoming Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting involving India, the United States, Japan and Australia.

The visit is being seen as part of efforts by both countries to further deepen cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, defence, emerging technologies and strategic connectivity amid evolving global geopolitical challenges.

- Ends