U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio began a four-day visit to India on May 22 and formally invited Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House. The trip comes amid strains in Washington-New Delhi relations, particularly due to India’s continued purchases of Russian oil.
In New Delhi, Mr. Rubio attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new office wing at the U.S. Embassy and called it "a testament to our commitment to this vital relationship." He stressed: "This crucial relationship between our two nations is a cornerstone of our approach to the Indo-Pacific region."
The U.S. State Department said Mr. Rubio and Prime Minister Modi agreed to "enhance trade and defense cooperation, and accelerate collaboration in critical and emerging technologies."
The visit will conclude with a meeting of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad) — a group comprising the U.S., Japan, Australia, and India, established in 2007 and revived in 2017 to counter China’s regional influence. The Quad meeting follows President Donald Trump’s visit to Beijing in early May and his meeting with Chairman Xi Jinping, which, despite lavish praise, produced no concrete agreements.
Trump administration measures over the past year have affected ties with India. The U.S. doubled tariffs to 50% on India over its purchase of Russian oil. Although both sides later announced a deal to help India move away from Moscow, the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran and the resulting upheaval in global energy markets have kept New Delhi dependent on Russian crude. Mr. Rubio is expected to urge India to buy more oil from the U.S. and Venezuela.
The Iran conflict is now the major issue. Mr. Rubio noted "some progress" in the latest round of talks and said an announcement could come in the coming days. He reiterated Washington’s demand that Iran allow free passage through the Strait of Hormuz and hand over its enriched uranium stockpile — conditions Tehran has repeatedly rejected.
U.S.-India relations have also been affected by Washington’s rapprochement with Pakistan, which is acting as a mediator in U.S.-Iran negotiations. Tensions between Pakistan and India remain high after a brief air battle in May last year. Mr. Trump claimed to have brokered a ceasefire, though the Indian government rejects any external pressure.
During his trip, Mr. Rubio also stopped in Kolkata to visit Mother Teresa’s tomb and the headquarters of her charitable organization. He is scheduled to visit Agra and Jaipur.
