The United States is working towards President Donald Trump’s visit to India in the early part of next year, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has confirmed, highlighting the continued strengthening of India-US strategic relations. Speaking in an exclusive interview at the White House, Rubio said he plans to visit India before the end of this year to prepare for the President’s trip.
Rubio described the relationship between the two countries as “very strong,” pointing to the recent meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit. He said the close personal rapport between the two leaders has played an important role in advancing bilateral cooperation.
The Secretary of State also expressed confidence that negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement are nearing completion. According to Rubio, both governments are in the final stages of discussions, with only the “last inches” remaining before a deal is concluded. He added that Washington is also looking forward to convening another Quad leaders’ meeting in the near future.
President Trump last visited India in February 2020 during the “Namaste Trump” event in Ahmedabad. Since returning to office, both nations have expanded cooperation in trade, defence, technology, regional security, and the Indo-Pacific. Rubio reiterated that India remains one of America’s closest strategic partners, expressing optimism that the planned presidential visit will further deepen the comprehensive partnership between the two democracies.
