Rubio set to visit India next month as Washington, Delhi reset ties

The tariffs were removed after the two sides agreed on a trade deal early February this year. Now, the two sides are also looking at an Indian delegation going to the US to finalise the trade agreement.

Rubio’s visit to India, the first by the US Secretary of State and NSA from the Trump administration, was disclosed by Sergio Gor, the US Ambassador to India, who was in the meeting between Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Rubio in Washington DC.

After the meeting, Gor, in a post on X, said, “Welcome to the White House @VikramMisri! Productive meeting with @SecRubio that focused on our bilateral relationship, especially trade, critical minerals, defense and the Quad. Secretary Rubio looks forward to visiting India next month!”

Misri, who is on a three-day visit to the US, met Rubio and they reviewed the bilateral relationship, especially trade, critical minerals, defence and the Quad.

“We look forward to deepening our engagement in these important sectors and much more to strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership,” the Indian embassy in the US said in a post on X.

Earlier, Misri held separate meetings with US Deputy Secretary Christopher Landau and US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker.

On the Landau-Misri meeting, Tommy Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesman for the Department of State, said,

“The leaders reaffirmed the close partnership between the two countries and shared news about the situation in the Persian Gulf and other global and regional priorities.” According to the Indian embassy, Misri and Landau discussed bilateral priorities and also exchanged assessments on regional and global developments of mutual concern.

Hooker said Misri and she discussed how India and the US can work closer together on security, defence and the economy. “We are finding practical ways to make both Americans and Indians safer and more prosperous, including through the Quad,” she said.

The Indian embassy said Hooker and Misri took stock of the India-US bilateral agenda since the Foreign Office Consultations held last December. They also shared assessments on recent developments in West Asia, as well as regional issues of mutual interest.

The two sides are also looking to finalise the trade deal, which was agreed to in early February. Gor said, “Highly productive meeting with @USTradeRep Ambassador Greer to discuss advancing @POTUS trade priorities in South and Central Asia. The United States and India have previously agreed to a trade deal, and we look forward to welcoming an Indian delegation to Washington later this month.”