Washington, May 19: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to embark on a four-day visit to India starting May 23. According to information shared by the US State Department, Rubio will first travel to Sweden before arriving in India. He expressed his eagerness for the upcoming trip, indicating that he has been looking forward to it.
This will be Rubio’s first official visit to India. Washington and New Delhi are preparing for discussions focusing on the Quad alliance, regional security, China, and strengthening strategic ties.
The US State Department announced that Rubio will attend a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Helsingborg, Sweden, on May 22, where he will discuss increasing defense investments within the alliance and the need for a greater sharing of responsibilities.
The department stated, “The Secretary will meet with his counterparts from the Arctic Seven countries to discuss our shared economic and security interests in the Arctic region and our strong position there. He will also hold bilateral meetings with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. From Sweden, Rubio will travel to India from May 23 to 26, visiting Kolkata, Agra, Jaipur, and New Delhi. During meetings with senior Indian officials, he will discuss energy security, trade, and defense cooperation.”
Before his trip to India, Rubio told the media on Tuesday, “I hope everything goes well. We are heading out for India.”
This visit comes amid growing geopolitical uncertainties in the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East, with both countries seeking better coordination on security, maritime issues, and new technologies.
US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gore, heightened expectations for the visit by stating on X, “Looking forward to welcoming my good friend Secretary Rubio to India! The US values our growing partnership with India and we are excited to build even stronger ties that will benefit both our countries and the world.”
In addition to bilateral meetings with Indian leaders in New Delhi, Rubio is expected to participate in a meeting of Quad foreign ministers, which includes India, the US, Japan, and Australia.
Mukesh Aghi, President and CEO of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, emphasized the significance of Rubio’s visit in light of current regional challenges and the need for strong strategic cooperation among Quad countries. He stated in an interview, “Now is the time to reinvigorate the Quad, which is crucial, especially given the current challenges in the Middle East.”
He noted that discussions between Washington and New Delhi are expected to address maritime security concerns related to the Strait of Hormuz and its broader implications for regional stability.