US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in India ahead of a meeting next week with his counterparts from India, Australia and Japan, members of the Indo-Pacific strategic alliance known as the Quad.
New Delhi — US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in India on Saturday ahead of a meeting next week with his counterparts from India, Australia and Japan, members of the Indo-Pacific region. The strategic alliance known as the Quad.
The visit comes at a time when Washington is seeking to stabilize relations with India after relations were strained due to President Donald Trump’s tariff policiesWhich led to the raising of customs duties on many Indian exports.
However, most of Rubio’s four-day visit will focus on a multi-city tour, along with a reception in New Delhi marking the 250th anniversary of US independence.
“There is a lot to work on with India, they are a great ally and partner. We do a lot of good work with them, so this is an important trip,” Rubio said before his visit to India.
Rubio arrived in the eastern city of Kolkata early on Saturday, where he was later scheduled to visit the Mother House, the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa. In the coming days, he will also visit the northern cities of Agra and Jaipur, famous for their iconic monuments and palaces.
He is also scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
On Tuesday, Rubio will participate in New Delhi in the ministerial meeting of the Quartet, which has repeatedly accused China of flexing its military muscles in the South China Sea and aggressively pushing its maritime territorial claims.
Beijing insists that its military is purely defensive to protect what it says are its sovereign rights and calls it “sovereignty.” Quad try to contain Its economic growth and impact.
After his inauguration in January of last year. Rubio’s first official international participation He was meeting with the foreign ministers of other Quartet countries, jointly and in separate sessions.