Marco Rubio in India Today: Trade Deal, Jaishankar Talks and Energy Ties on Agenda

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to arrive in Mumbai today for a three-day visit to India, with trade negotiations, energy security and bilateral ties on the agenda.

The visit comes after Rubio said Washington and New Delhi were close to finalising a trade agreement. He will meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday before travelling to Jamnagar in Gujarat on Wednesday.

“We're trying to finalise a trade deal with India right now. We're very close to doing that,” Rubio told reporters in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Monday.

MUMBAI TALKS WITH JAISHANKAR

According to the Ministry of External Affairs schedule, Rubio will arrive at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 2.15 pm.

He will lay a wreath at the Taj Memorial at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel at 3.40 pm, paying tribute to victims of terrorism. His bilateral meeting with Jaishankar is scheduled for 3.50 pm at the same venue.

The discussions are expected to cover the India–US strategic partnership, economic cooperation and regional stability.

Later in the evening, Rubio will attend the Freedom 250 Reception at the Jio World Convention Centre. He is scheduled to leave Mumbai for Jamnagar, a major refining hub, at 10.30 am on Wednesday.

TRADE AND ENERGY IN FOCUS

Ahead of the visit, Rubio said India’s energy requirements were among the factors Washington needed to consider when deciding on sanctions, tariffs and national security waivers.

He noted that countries dependent on particular energy suppliers could face difficulties switching sources quickly, especially amid pressure on global supplies and prices.

“You've got countries like India, for example, that have voluntarily diversified their energy portfolio, but are still getting a substantial amount of energy from Russia because it's hard to pivot from one day to the next,” he said.

Rubio described India as an important US ally and partner, saying the administration needed time to assess the economic consequences of potential measures.

His comments followed President Donald Trump’s decision to waive certain sanctions linked to Russian fuel sales. Rubio said Washington was examining the implications for the global economy as well as the United States.

He also pointed to pressures on energy supplies from tensions involving Iran, Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and strikes on energy infrastructure during the Russia–Ukraine war.

While Rubio expressed optimism about the trade negotiations, the supplied announcement did not detail the agreement’s terms or specify a date for its conclusion.

With inputs from ANI