US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Kolkata on Saturday, beginning his first official visit to India ahead of key talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi later in the day.
Rubio’s four-day India tour, which runs from May 23 to 26, comes amid growing strategic engagement between New Delhi and Washington on trade, defence, energy and Indo-Pacific cooperation. His arrival in Kolkata also marks the first visit by a US Secretary of State to the city in 14 years, after then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton travelled there in 2012.
Confirming Rubio’s arrival, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor wrote on X that the American diplomat would later meet PM Modi in Delhi. “Trade, Technology, Defense, QUAD, and many other items to discuss and advance over the next few days,” he said.
While the US State Department has not officially released Rubio’s Kolkata schedule, sources in the US Consulate said he is expected to visit Mother House, the headquarters of Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa.
Apart from Kolkata and New Delhi, Rubio is also scheduled to visit Agra and Jaipur during the trip.
The visit is being seen as diplomatically significant, particularly in the backdrop of upcoming Quad consultations and discussions on energy cooperation. Speaking before departing for India, Rubio said the United States was keen to expand energy exports to India
“We want to sell them as much energy as they’ll buy,” Rubio told reporters in Miami, pointing to record US energy production and exports.
Responding to questions on rising energy prices and concerns linked to disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, Rubio described India as a “great partner” and said he was looking forward to engaging with ministers from the Quad grouping.
The Quad meeting, scheduled for May 26, is expected to bring together Rubio, Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi for discussions on regional security, connectivity and strategic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
Source: India Today