Marco Rubio Says India-US Trade Deal Is ‘Incredibly Close’

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held wide-ranging talks in Mumbai on Tuesday, reviewing the full scope of India-US ties and committing to an early conclusion of the proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). The talks came on the margins of the US Freedom 250 Reception hosted by Ambassador Sergio Gor.

Rubio is in India from October 20 to 21 at Jaishankar’s invitation. It is his second visit this year, after an earlier trip to New Delhi in May. Both sides discussed trade, defence, technology and energy security, along with regional and global developments. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the ministers “welcomed the progress made” on the BTA and reaffirmed their commitment to an early conclusion.

The MEA said the visit reflects the sustained momentum of high-level exchanges and the importance both sides attach to advancing the India-US COMPACT for the 21st century. Jaishankar was the chief guest at the Freedom 250 Reception.

‘THE ALIGNMENT IS EXTRAORDINARY’

At the reception, Rubio said India and the US would not agree on everything. “No two nations on Earth will ever be perfectly aligned on every issue, and there will be times and points of disagreement,” he said. “But on the core issues that matter, the core issues that define the national interests of both India and the United States, the alignment between our countries is extraordinary.”

He said the shared interests of the two countries can shape geopolitics, economics, trade and commerce for decades, and that Washington should engage with India more often, calling it one of its most vital geopolitical partners.

‘WEEKS, NOT MONTHS’

Rubio said the trade deal is “incredibly close.” He is not directly involved in the negotiations, which run through the US trade representative, but has followed them closely and expects the agreement in a matter of weeks and not months.

He said it was important for every detail to be agreed before an announcement. “You can’t afford for a relationship of this magnitude to be threatened by announcing a deal and it turning out the deal wasn’t finalised,” he said. The talks, he added, are now down to technical details, since both sides must agree that the language means the same thing.

WHY MUMBAI

Rubio explained why Mumbai was on his itinerary. “Mumbai, in particular, is the financial heart and soul of the country,” he said, noting that many of the companies investing with the US are based there. He said the US “actually doesn’t come here enough” given the importance of the relationship, and that he expects to return.

He noted that the US Attorney General and the Commerce Secretary have visited India, and that a congressional delegation is in town at the same time.

Rubio arrived in Mumbai earlier in the day with his wife, Jeanette Rubio, and Ambassador Gor, and was welcomed by the MEA. He will now travel to Jamnagar in Gujarat for talks that the US State Department says will include “enhanced energy cooperation.”

With inputs from ANI