Marco Rubio begins India visit with Kolkata stop before talks in New Delhi

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in India on Saturday, May 23, 2026, for his first official visit aimed at resetting strained India-U.S. ties.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday, with the two leaders discussing a wide-ranging agenda dominated by energy security, trade tensions, defence cooperation and Indo-Pacific strategy."We had a productive discussion on ways to deepen U.S.-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," said US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor in a post on X.Following the talks, the US Ambassador to India further revealed that Rubio had extended an invitation to the prime minister on behalf of US President Donald Trump to visit the White House."Secretary Marco Rubio extended an invite on behalf of President Donald Trump, for Prime Minister Modi to visit the White House in the near future," Gor wrote in a separate post on the social media platform.Energy likely emerged as the central focus of the meeting, as Washington is expected to have pushed to position itself as a long-term supplier for India amid growing uncertainty in global markets.According to earlier reports, Rubio is understood to have discussed expanding American exports of liquefied natural gas and LPG to India, which has been scrambling to stabilise domestic energy supplies after weeks of volatility in international crude markets.The meeting also likely addressed India’s continued purchases of Russian crude oil — an issue that had strained ties between Washington and New Delhi over the past year before the current energy crisis forced a shift in the US approach.The high-level talks came at a turbulent moment for the global economy, with India grappling with soaring fuel prices and supply disruptions triggered by the ongoing Iran conflict and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz.Beyond energy, PM Modi and Rubio are believed to have discussed ongoing trade negotiations, defence partnerships and technology cooperation, particularly in areas linked to semiconductor supply chains, critical technologies and military coordination.The talks further carried significant geopolitical weight ahead of the upcoming Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting involving India, the United States, Japan and Australia. Discussions are expected to centre on maritime security, regional stability and countering China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific.Rubio’s India visit is being closely watched in diplomatic circles as an early test of how the Trump administration intends to recalibrate ties with New Delhi after months of friction over tariffs, Russian oil imports and remarks by US President Donald Trump on India-Pakistan tensions.For New Delhi, the meeting offered an opportunity to secure economic and energy stability at a time of mounting global uncertainty. For Washington, it was a chance to deepen strategic engagement with one of Asia’s most influential powers as geopolitical fault lines continue to widen across the region.Rubio’s India itinerary itself reflects both strategic and symbolic priorities.The US Secretary of State began his four-day visit in Kolkata, where he visited Mother House and a children’s home before flying to New Delhi for talks with the Indian leadership. His tour will also take him to Agra and Jaipur, blending high-level diplomacy with cultural outreach as Washington looks to deepen engagement with India on multiple fronts.

Marco Rubio in India LIVE: The US Secretary of State reached Kolkata this morning and visited the Missionaries of Charity in the city before heading to the national capital.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meets PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi on his first India visit as top US diplomat, with talks on trade, energy, QUAD and Russian oil imports.8

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in New Delhi on Saturday for his first official visit to India -- a trip aimed at recalibrating the bilateral relations that have faced headwinds since mid-last year. The top US diplomat is scheduled to hold wide-ranging talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in addition to meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attending a meeting of the Quad foreign ministers in New Delhi. The US Secretary of State reached Kolkata this morning and visited the Mother House -- the headquarters of Saint Teresa's Missionaries of Charity -- before flying to the national capital. Rubio is scheduled to meet PM Modi shortly. "Landed in India. Looking forward to a great visit," Rubio said in a social media post. US Ambassador Sergio Gor, welcoming the Secretary of State, outlined a forward-looking agenda aimed at strengthening bilateral ties. He underlined the upcoming Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting and Washington's focus on realising President Don

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio landed in New Delhi on Saturday, aiming to repair bilateral ties that have been under strain since mid-last year. The top US diplomat is scheduled to hold wide-ranging talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, in addition to meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and attending a Quad foreign ministers conclave in New Delhi. The US Secretary of State reached Kolkata this morning and visited the Missionaries of Charity in the city before heading to the national capital. Rubio is scheduled to meet PM Modi shortly.