New Delhi: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi shortly after arriving in New Delhi and extended an invitation on behalf of US President Donald Trump for PM Modi to visit the White House in the near future.
Following the meeting, PM Modi said India and the United States would continue working closely for global welfare and security.
“Happy to receive the US Secretary of State, Mr Marco Rubio. We discussed sustained progress in the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and issues related to regional and global peace and security. India and the United States will continue to work closely for the global good,” PM Modi posted on X.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also described the meeting as productive, saying both nations discussed strengthening cooperation in security, trade and critical technologies.
“Great to join Secretary Rubio for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We had a productive discussion on ways to deepen US-India cooperation across security, trade, and critical technologies — areas that strengthen both our nations and advance a free and open Indo-Pacific. India is a vital partner to the United States,” Gor posted on X.
In another post, Gor confirmed that Rubio had formally conveyed President Trump’s invitation for PM Modi to visit the White House soon.
Earlier in the day, Rubio arrived in Kolkata for the start of his four-day India visit. He was received at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport by Ambassador Gor. Accompanied by his wife, Jeanette Rubio, the US Secretary of State also visited Mother House, the headquarters of Saint Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata.
“Secretary Marco Rubio has landed in Kolkata. This is his first trip to India. Later today, we will call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Trade, Technology, Defence, QUAD, and many other items to discuss and advance over the next few days,” Gor stated on X after Rubio’s arrival.
Rubio became the first US Secretary of State to visit Kolkata since Hillary Clinton travelled to the city in May 2012. His visit comes weeks after West Bengal saw a major political shift with a Bharatiya Janata Party-led government taking office in the state.
Rubio’s India visit, scheduled from May 23 to 26 and covering Kolkata, Agra, Jaipur and New Delhi, is being viewed as diplomatically significant due to planned energy discussions and meetings involving ministers from the Quad nations.
India will host the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi on May 26. At the invitation of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi will join Rubio in India for the meeting.
Ahead of his India visit, Rubio said Washington aimed to expand energy cooperation with New Delhi and deepen coordination through the Quad, describing India as a “great ally” and “great partner” amid global supply disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz.
The Ministry of External Affairs stated that Rubio’s visit would further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.
With IANS inputs