US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will arrive in Mumbai today for an official visit to India. Shortly after his arrival, Secretary Rubio will pay tribute to victims of terror during a solemn wreath-laying ceremony at the Taj Memorial inside the historic Hotel Taj Mahal Palace. Mr Rubio will hold bilateral meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Mumbai this afternoon. The dialogue is expected to cover key aspects of the India-US strategic partnership, economic cooperation, regional stability and energy security and a trip to Gujarat’s energy hub in Jamnagar, Rubio will address key aspects of the strategic partnership, regional stability, Later in the evening, Secretary Rubio is scheduled to attend the “Freedom 250 Reception” at the Jio World Convention Centre, celebrating key milestones in US history and bilateral diplomatic ties.
Tomorrow, Secretary Rubio will complete the Mumbai leg of his visit and emplane for Jamnagar in Gujarat.
Earlier yesterday, Mr Rubio indicated that the US-India trade deal is close to finalisation. Speaking to reporters in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, he also defended Washington’s decision to temporarily waive sanctions for countries importing Russian oil and gas, saying the move is aimed at easing pressure on global energy supplies and prices. He said every country has to consider its own circumstances, including geography and the difficulty of sourcing energy from alternative suppliers. Rubio added that these factors must be weighed when making foreign policy decisions.
This will be Mr Rubio’s second visit to India since May, when he attended the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting hosted by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi.
