Rubio meets Modi as US moves to strengthen strained bilateral ties

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi today (23 May), sharing Washington's perspective on the situation in West Asia as the United States seeks to shore up bilateral ties strained by Donald Trump's tariff war and warming relations with Pakistan.

Modi reaffirmed India's consistent support for peace efforts and reiterated the call for a peaceful resolution of conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy, according to a readout issued by the Indian Prime Minister's Office.

On his first visit to India, Rubio briefed Modi "on the sustained progress in bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors, including defence, strategic technologies, trade and investment, energy security, connectivity, education and people-to-people ties."

Rubio also shared the US perspective on various regional and global issues, including the situation in West Asia, the statement added.

The prime minister urged Secretary Rubio to convey his warm greetings to President Trump and said he looked forward to their continued exchanges.

Rubio is in Delhi to attend the meeting of foreign ministers of the Quad countries—India, the US, Australia and Japan—on 26 May.

In a post on X, Modi said, "We discussed sustained progress in the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and issues related to regional and global peace and security."

He added that India and the United States will continue to work closely for the global good.

Meanwhile, at an event at the US Embassy in New Delhi soon after he met Modi, the secretary of state said, "The personal relationship between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is 'incredibly important' because the two leaders are focused on the long term."

"It is a relationship which dates back to the first administration, when the president had a chance to visit here, and it has carried over into the second administration. You can just see the connection between them," Rubio said.

He also underlined India's growing importance in Washington's Indo-Pacific strategy and referred to the Quad grouping as a key part of that approach.

Rubio said the India-US relationship is "at the cornerstone of Washington's 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 the important role India plays in the United States' posture and approach to the Indo-Pacific," Rubio said.

Earlier, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said in a post on X following Rubio's meeting with Modi that the secretary of state, on behalf of Trump, invited the Indian prime minister to visit the White House in the near future.

Gor termed the discussions between Modi and Rubio as "productive" and said both sides explored ways to expand cooperation in security, trade, and critical technologies while advancing a "free and open Indo-Pacific".