New Delhi: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will visit India from October 17 to 22 as part of a trip that will also take him to Samarkand in Uzbekistan,
the US Department of State announced on Tuesday.
During his India visit, Rubio will travel to Mumbai and Jamnagar and meet senior government officials to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries. Discussions will cover regional and global developments, along with prospects for expanding energy cooperation.
The US State Department said Rubio would also meet business leaders to explore opportunities for commercial investment and economic cooperation between India and the United States.
The visit comes as New Delhi and Washington continue efforts to deepen bilateral ties amid ongoing trade negotiations and differences over tariffs and energy-related issues.
Rubio to discuss energy and investment
According to the State Department, Rubio will hold meetings with senior Indian officials to exchange views on regional and global developments and discuss ways to enhance energy cooperation.
His itinerary includes Jamnagar in Gujarat, home to Reliance Industries’ major oil refining complex, one of the world’s largest single-site refinery facilities. The visit comes amid wider discussions on energy security, trade and investment between the two countries.
Rubio will also engage with business leaders to promote commercial investment and economic cooperation. However, the State Department’s announcement did not provide details of specific meetings or agreements expected during the India leg of the trip.
This will be Rubio’s second official visit to India this year. He visited the country in May for the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting hosted by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi.
The upcoming visit is expected to provide another opportunity for the two sides to discuss their strategic partnership and economic priorities.
Central Asian visits as well
Before travelling to India, Rubio will visit Samarkand, Uzbekistan, to participate in the C5+1 Ministerial, a diplomatic platform bringing together the United States and five Central Asian countries.
The grouping comprises the United States, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and the Kyrgyz Republic. Rubio will also hold bilateral meetings with senior officials from the five Central Asian countries.
The State Department said the meetings would highlight how strategic cooperation through the platform could promote a more peaceful and prosperous future for the United States and Central Asia.
More than 200 American business leaders will accompany Rubio as part of a commercial delegation to Uzbekistan. The delegation is aimed at strengthening commercial cooperation and expanding business opportunities between the United States and Central Asian countries.
