US Secretary Rubio Visits India, Invites PM Modi to White House

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in India on Saturday for his first official visit since taking office, starting his trip in Kolkata before traveling to New Delhi. The centerpiece of the visit was a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi focused on deepening the India-US strategic partnership. Rubio delivered a direct invitation from President Donald Trump, asking the Prime Minister to visit the White House soon. Modi responded positively, stressing the importance of sustained cooperation on global challenges and regional stability. Ambassador Sergio Gor, who joined the discussions, emphasized that talks also explored ways to expand collaboration in defense, commerce, and emerging technologies. These areas, he said, reinforce the shared vision of an open Indo-Pacific and highlight India’s role as a vital partner. Beyond the capital, Rubio’s schedule includes visits to Agra and Jaipur. He will meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for bilateral talks on Sunday and participate in the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on Tuesday alongside counterparts from Australia and Japan.