US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday said that President Donald Trump could visit India in the early part of next year. He also underscored the growing momentum in India-US ties as the two countries move closer to concluding a bilateral trade agreement.
When asked about Trump’s possible visit to India next year, Rubio told IANS, “We’re hoping that’s what we’re working towards – sometime early next year to have the President come. I think it’s very positive. India is such a close partner and ally of the United States, and the relationship between the Prime Minister and the President couldn’t be closer, which I think is really important in diplomacy.”
India-US share common interest on energy: Rubio
Rubio said the India-US relationship was in a strong position following the recent meeting between Trump and PM Modi on the sidelines of the G7 Summit.
“I think it’s going fantastic. I mean, it’s very strong,” he said. “We had a great meeting with the Prime Minister. The President did at the G7.”
Rubio told IANS that Washington was well-positioned to support India’s expanding energy requirements as both countries deepen their strategic partnership.
“I think obviously India’s been focused for a very long time on diversifying its sources of energy, and so I think that trend will continue and we certainly would love to be a part of that,” Rubio said. “We think we have some solutions in that regard.”
He said energy was among several areas where Washington and New Delhi shared common strategic interests.
“These are the largest democracies in the world and the oldest democracies in the world,” he said. “I think we have so much aligned and in common that we can build and work on together our interests on economics, on supply chains, on critical minerals, on energy, on security, on freedom of navigation.”
“These are all issues that bind us together. We’re aligned on so many things,” he added.
Rubio also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, saying he has steered India through remarkable economic progress and helped position the country as an increasingly influential global power.
(With agency inputs)