Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he looks forward to returning to India to set up a Presidential visit early next year.
Washington: In a significant development, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said the Trump administration is working towards President Donald Trump’s visit to India in the early part of next year, underscoring the growing momentum in India-US ties as the two countries move closer to concluding a bilateral trade agreement.
Rubio said he expected to travel to India before the end of the year to prepare for the President’s visit. “I look forward to returning before the end of the year and setting up a Presidential visit in the early parts of next year,” Rubio told IANS.
Asked if Trump’s visit could take place next year, Rubio replied: “We’re hoping. That’s what we’re working towards sometime early next year to have the President come.” Rubio said the India-US relationship was in a strong position following the recent meeting between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit.
“I think it’s going fantastic. I mean, it’s very strong,” he said. “We had a great meeting with the Prime Minister. The President did at the G7.”
The Secretary of State also expressed optimism about the ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries. “We’re hoping to finalise a trade deal. We’re on the last inches of getting it done, and it’s very positive,” he said.
Rubio said Washington was also looking forward to another meeting of the Quad leaders in the near future. “We look forward to re-engaging again in another Quad meeting very soon,” he said.
Describing India as one of America’s closest partners, Rubio said: “India is such a close partner and ally of the United States, and the relationship between the Prime Minister and the President couldn’t be closer, which I think is really important in diplomacy.”
President Trump last visited India in February 2020, when he and Prime Minister Modi addressed the “Namaste Trump” rally in Ahmedabad before holding bilateral talks in New Delhi. Since returning to office, Trump and Modi have maintained regular engagement as both governments seek to deepen cooperation across trade, defense, technology and the Indo-Pacific.
India-US ties on strong footing: Sergio Gor
Meanwhile, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor dismissed claims that India-US ties are under strain, asserting that the bilateral relationship remains "on strong footing" and urging critics to "look at the facts" rather than online commentary.
Gor said that the relationship continued to remain on a strong footing. "The relationship is on strong footing," Gor said, urging critics to "look at the facts" rather than online commentary.
Highlighting defense cooperation, Gor also said India continues to conduct more military exercises with the United States than any other country. "India still has more exercises with the United States than any other country by far. Every single month, there's something happening, whether it's Indian troops coming here or US troops going into the region," he said, adding that another Indian Navy delegation is scheduled to visit the United States in the coming weeks.
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Trade talks with US in final stage: Piyush Goyal New Delhi: The India-US bilateral trade agreement (BTA) talks have entered the final stage, with most key issues having been sorted out and both sides working towards a deal that gives New Delhi an advantage over its competitors, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said. Goyal said he does not foresee any major hurdles in concluding the US trade agreement despite recent legal and policy developments in Washington. "We don't see any difficulties with the US," Goyal said, adding that "concessions and other elements have largely been finalised." He said India has consistently sought preferential market access over competing nations, a position that has been understood by the US administration. Following the US Supreme Court's decision to strike down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), Goyal said Washington is now working on an alternative mechanism that would preserve India's competitive advantage. He added that US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer has acknowledged India's position during the negotiations. Despite higher tariffs, India's exports to the US have remained resilient. Goyal said bilateral trade has continued to grow and projected that India's merchandise exports in the April-June quarter will rise about 15 per cent year-on-year. |
