U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio Visits India: How Strained Are Trump-Modi Ties?

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will arrive in India on Saturday (May 24) for a three-day visit, traveling through Kolkata, Agra, Jaipur, and New Delhi. He is expected to discuss energy, trade, and defense cooperation with senior Indian officials, according to State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott.

The trip precedes a meeting of foreign ministers from the informal Quad security group (the United States, Japan, Australia, and India) on May 26 in New Delhi. The Quad, often described as an 'Asian version of NATO,' was formed to counter China's rise and has conducted joint military and naval exercises in the Indo-Pacific region.

Rubio's visit comes just days after the Trump administration dropped federal criminal fraud charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani. Adani had been accused of bribing Indian officials up to $265 million to secure contracts and misleading U.S. investors about a solar energy project. The Justice Department dismissed the case after Adani pledged $10 billion in U.S. investments.

At the same time, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced a 30-day extension of sanctions waivers, allowing 'energy-vulnerable' countries to continue buying Russian crude oil shipped by sea. The move temporarily eases pressure on major Russian oil buyers like India, which has long faced U.S. criticism for relying on discounted Russian crude.

Analysts view both decisions as efforts to strengthen ties with India. Rubio's meeting with Quad leaders is also seen as a reaffirmation of U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific region.

However, U.S.-India relations have experienced strains. Last October, Indian Deputy Foreign Minister Shyam Saran remarked, 'The 25-year upward trajectory of India-U.S. relations has certainly plateaued, if not begun to decline.'

Russian Oil and Tariffs

Last year, relations nearly hit a low when Trump imposed an additional 25% tariff (raising the total to 50%) on Indian goods as punishment for continued Russian oil purchases. After meeting with Prime Minister Modi, Trump announced that India had pledged to stop buying Russian oil in exchange for the U.S. reducing tariffs to 18%. However, since the U.S.-Israel war with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, India has continued to buy Russian oil. The U.S. now wants to persuade India to buy oil from the United States and Venezuela.

Pakistan

Rubio's visit follows months of improving U.S.-Pakistan relations. In April 2025, India and Pakistan engaged in armed conflict after an attack that killed 26 people in Pahalgam, Kashmir. New Delhi blamed a separatist group linked to Pakistan. India launched missile strikes on nine targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, followed by three days of aerial skirmishes. A ceasefire brokered on May 10 was credited by Trump, though India denied U.S. involvement, while Pakistan nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.

In December 2025, the U.S. approved advanced technology upgrades for Pakistan's F-16 fighter jets worth about $686 million — a move analysts say sends a signal to India.