The crucial India visit of the US Secretary of State from May 23-26 will focus on Quad partnership, energy security, trade, and defense cooperation.
New Delhi: Setting a high-profile visit to India amid an evolving geopolitical situation, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he is looking forward to celebrating America’s 250th birthday with partners in India.
In a video message shared ahead of his May 23-26 visit to India, Rubio said, “As America gets ready to celebrate our 250th birthday, we look forward to doing it with our partners in India. India is the world’s largest democracy, and we are the world's oldest. So, we look forward to celebrating it together.”
While sharing the video on the social media platform X, the US Embassy in India stated, “We’re looking forward to celebrating with you, Mr Secretary!”
The US will commemorate and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4.
Rubio is scheduled to travel to India from May 23-26, visiting Kolkata, Agra, Jaipur, and New Delhi, as the US and India prepare for talks expected to focus on the Quad partnership, energy security, trade, and defense cooperation amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East.
The State Department announced Rubio’s travel plans this week, saying he would first travel to Helsingborg, Sweden, on May 22 to attend the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting before heading to India.
“The Secretary will discuss energy security, trade, and defence cooperation during meetings with senior Indian officials,” State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor recently said that the Donald Trump administration wants to boost energy exports to India. “The big thing that we want to showcase here is how vitally important this relationship is for both sides. Rubio’s trip is “an indication of the interest, and also the partnership that we have, that we want to grow,” Gor said.
Apart from bilateral meetings with Indian leaders in New Delhi, Rubio is also expected to attend the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting involving India, the United States, Japan, and Australia.
Last month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump held a telephonic conversation during which they discussed the current situation in West Asia, as well as ways to further strengthen the bilateral partnership.
