The visit of United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio to India, scheduled between October 19 and October 22, will include meetings with Indian government officials and business leaders. The purpose is to strengthen relations, exchange views on regional and global dynamics, and discuss prospects for enhanced energy cooperation.
According to reports, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor stated that Washington was 'expecting' Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and other officials to travel to Mumbai to meet Rubio. The Ambassador also mentioned that Rubio will meet 'some of the folks at Reliance' in Jamnagar.
During a press briefing on Friday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that Jaishankar will hold talks with Rubio on October 20 and attend the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the independence of the United States as the guest of honor. Jaiswal also noted that it has been a practice 'in the last decade or so' for foreign secretaries to be hosted outside Delhi.
The visit by Rubio comes as India and the US seek to conclude negotiations on an agreement aimed at strengthening relations, exchanging views on regional and global dynamics, and discussing prospects for enhanced energy cooperation. According to the US state department, Rubio will also meet business leaders to 'promote opportunities for commercial investment and economic cooperation', but did not specify who he will meet.
The schedule of Rubio's visit also includes a meeting in Jamnagar, where he will meet with representatives from Reliance Industries, one of the biggest oil refinery companies in the world. This company is known to have refined Russian crude, and India's purchase of Russian oil has been a source of friction with Washington.
The relations between India and the US have been frosty since Donald Trump became the president for the second term in January 2025. The Trump administration imposed tariffs on import of Indian goods and a punitive levy for New Delhi’s purchase of Russian crude. Washington has repeatedly alleged that India’s purchases were helping fund Russia’s war on Ukraine.
The combined tariff rate was 50% before it was reduced after an interim trade deal was reached in February. The agreement, which would bring the tariff rate on Indian goods to 18%, has not been finalized, with New Delhi saying talks with Washington had reached a 'plateau' and further concessions might be difficult.
Source:
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