US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hailed bilateral relations with India, highlighting that New Delhi plays a crucial role in the US approach towards Indo-Pacific.
Marco Rubio — who is in India on a state
visit — delivered the remarks at the US Embassy Support Annex Building in New Delhi, shortly after a key meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The partnership between India and the US is important. The relationship between PM Modi and Trump is very important”, he said.
Rubio also shed light on India’s role in Washington’s approach to the Indo-Pacific, asserting the ties between the two nations is at the “cornerstone of our approach to the Indo-Pacific”.
“The relationship between our two countries is at the cornerstone of our approach to the Indo-Pacific…My very first meeting officially as Secretary of State was a meeting of the Quad… We wanted to do it here, not just because of our commitment to that structure of work, but also as a tangible sign of what an important role India plays in the United States and in our posture and in our approach to the Indo-Pacific”, he said.
Marco Rubio’s India Visit LIVE Updates
Rubio described PM Modi and President Trump as two “very serious” leaders who are focused “not just on the short-term, but on the long-term”.
“Right now, it is the relationship between the President and the Prime Minister — it’s a personal relationship that dates back to the first administration, when the President had a chance to visit here — and it has carried over into the second administration. And you can just see the connection between them, and I think that’s incredibly important. It is the connection between the President and the Prime Minister and America’s national security”, said the US Secretary of State.
On a lighter note, Rubio also commented on the scorching weather in India, saying, “So it’s an honor, really, to be here today. I wanted to keep this brief because it’s hot.”
PM Modi-Rubio Meet
During the key meeting between PM Modi and Rubio — where US envoy to India Sergio Gor was also present — the two leaders discussed on a wide range of subjects, including ways to deepen bilateral ties, enhancing cooperation across various sectors, and the situation in West Asia.
Prime Minister Modi called for a peaceful resolution of conflicts, pushing for “dialogue and diplomacy”, read an official statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
“Prime Minister reaffirmed India’s consistent support for peace efforts and reiterated the call for peaceful resolution of the conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy”, it said.
The US and Iran have been locked in a war since late February — when Washington and Israel launched strikes on Tehran — as hopes for a diplomatic breakthrough fade amid distrust and differences over critical issues.
Iran War, And A Promise Made By US
US Department of State spokesperson Tommy Pigott elaborated on the conversation between PM Modi and Rubio during the meeting, saying the two sides discussed on the ongoing war with Iran.
According to Pigott, Secretary of State Rubio asserted that US would not let Iran “hold the global energy markets hostage”.
“The Secretary and Prime Minister discussed the current situation in the Middle East. The Secretary emphasized that the United States will not let Iran hold the global energy market hostage and affirmed that U.S. energy products have the potential to diversify India’s energy supply”, he said.
The statement comes as India continues to explore diversified options for its energy requirements, especially after the blockade of the key Strait of Hormuz, which sent shockwaves through global markets and disrupted energy flows worldwide.
