Our Bureau
New Delhi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held wide-ranging discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on bilateral cooperation across areas such as defence, trade and energy. Rubio briefed PM Modi on Washington’s perspective on the situation in West Asia, and PM Modi reaffirmed India’s consistent support for the peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, Secretary Rubio briefed the Prime Minister on the sustained progress in bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including defence, strategic technologies, trade and investment, energy security, connectivity, education and people-to-people ties.
Secretary Rubio shared the US perspective on various regional and global issues, including the situation in West Asia, the statement said.
It underlined that the Prime Minister reaffirmed India’s consistent support for peace efforts and reiterated the call for a peaceful resolution of the conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy.
Prime Minister requested Secretary Rubio to convey his warm greetings to President Trump and said that he looked forward to their continued exchanges.
In a post on X, PM Modi highlighted that New Delhi and Washington would continue to work closely for the global good.
“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”, he said on X.
Earlier, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, accompanied by his wife Jeanette D Rubio, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor and US Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Robert Gabriel, arrived in New Delhi on Saturday after concluding his visit to Kolkata earlier in the day.
During his visit to the national capital, Rubio is scheduled to deliver remarks at the dedication ceremony of the US Embassy Support Annex Building.
Earlier in the day, Rubio visited Kolkata, where he paid tribute to Mother Teresa at the Missionaries of Charity.
In a post on X, Rubio said, “Mother Teresa left a tremendous legacy of compassion and service. I was honored to visit the Missionaries of Charity today to pay homage to her legacy and to see the living example of the Catholic faith in action.”
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor shared an update regarding the delegation’s travel to Delhi.
In a post on X, US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor wrote, “In the air to Delhi!” alongwith with which he shared an image showing US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, his wife Jeanette D Rubio, US Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Robert Gabriel and the ambassador himself travelling on the plane.
Earlier on Saturday, Rubio and his wife departed from Kolkata for Delhi, where the US Secretary of State is expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior Indian leaders.
Gor also confirmed through a post on X that US Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Robert Gabriel is part of the travelling delegation.
He said, “Travelling with Secretary Rubio is our dear friend Robert Gabriel! Glad to welcome him back to India!”
Rubio arrived in Kolkata on Saturday morning, marking the first visit by a top American diplomat to the eastern metropolis in 14 years.
The Kolkata stop marked the beginning of Rubio’s four-day visit to India from May 23 to 26.
The top US diplomat is expected to travel to multiple cities, including Agra, Jaipur and New Delhi, during the course of the visit. The high-level engagements are anticipated to focus on trade, technology, energy security and defence cooperation between India and the United States.
The visit assumes significance amid growing strategic convergence between the two countries and comes ahead of the upcoming QUAD foreign ministers’ meeting scheduled to be held in New Delhi on May 26.
The announcement regarding Rubio’s arrival was made by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor through a post on X. He stated that Rubio would later travel to New Delhi to hold discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior Indian leaders.
In a post on X, he said, “Secretary Marco Rubio has landed in Kolkata. This is his first trip to India. Later today, we will call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Trade, Technology, Defence, QUAD, and many other items to discuss and advance over the next few days!”
According to the US ambassador, the upcoming engagements will primarily focus on strengthening cooperation in key strategic sectors, including defence partnerships, advanced technologies, trade ties and collaboration under the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) framework.
