PM Modi and Marco Rubio discuss ways to deepen bilateral security and trade cooperation as US calls India ‘vital partner’ | Today’s news
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in New Delhi on Saturday after visiting Kolkata and met Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation in security, trade and critical technologies, according to US Ambassador to India Sergio Gore, who described India as a “vital partner” of the US.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Gor and US Assistant Secretary of State Allison Hooker attended the meeting between PM Modi and Minister Marco Rubio.
Ambassador Gor described the talks as “productive” and said that India and the US continue to push for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
“Great to join @SecRubio for a meeting with Prime Minister @narendramodi. We had a productive discussion on ways to deepen US-India cooperation in security, trade, and critical technologies – areas that strengthen both our nations and support a free and open Indo-Pacific. India is a vital partner for the United States!” Gor wrote on X.
Upon arrival in India, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Marco Rubio’s visit will further strengthen India-US comprehensive global strategic partnership.
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Rubio was accompanied by his wife, Jeanette D. Rubio, Gor, and US Senior Deputy National Security Adviser Robert Gabriel in New Delhi.
Rubio’s visit to Calcutta
Earlier in the day, he visited Calcutta and paid homage to Mother Teresa at the Missionaries of Charity.
Accepting the X, Rubio praised Mother Teresa’s enduring legacy of compassion and service, saying, “It was an honor to visit the Missionaries of Charity today to pay tribute to her legacy and see a living example of the Catholic faith in action.”
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Rubio landed in Kolkata on Saturday morning, the first visit by a senior US diplomat to the eastern city in 14 years.
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Kolkata marked the start of his four-day visit to India from May 23 to 26. During the trip, the US Secretary of State is expected to visit several cities, including Agra, Jaipur and New Delhi. His engagements are likely to focus on strengthening cooperation between India and the United States in areas such as trade, technology, energy security and defense.
The visit is considered significant given the deepening strategic link between the two countries and comes ahead of the upcoming QUAD Foreign Ministers’ meeting scheduled for May 26 in Delhi.
According to the US ambassador, the talks will mainly focus on strengthening cooperation in key strategic areas, including defense partnerships, advanced technologies, trade relations and coordination within the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD).
Meanwhile, Rubio also extended an invitation to Prime Minister Modi to visit the White House on behalf of US President Donald Trump.
Posting on X, the US envoy said: “News! Secretary Marco Rubio on behalf of President Donald Trump has invited PM Modi to visit the White House in the near future!”
