Strategic partnership takes centre stage
Marco Rubio said the India-US relationship is based on long-term strategic cooperation
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday described India and the United States as “strategic allies” with a partnership that extends far beyond regional cooperation, during his delegation-level talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi.
Rubio, who arrived in India on Saturday for a four-day visit, met Jaishankar for wide-ranging discussions focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation across global and regional issues. Emphasising the depth of ties between the two countries, Rubio said the India-US relationship stood apart because of its strategic nature and expanding global footprint.
“The US and India aren’t just allies. We are strategic allies and that’s of critical importance,” Rubio said during the talks.
He noted that while Washington engages with countries across the world on different matters, its relationship with India is unique because of the level of strategic cooperation involved.
“Our strategic partnership is what sets this relationship apart because it’s not simply limited to the region, it extends to offer opportunities to cooperate globally in different regions of the world,” Rubio said.
The US Secretary of State added that both countries were exploring possibilities of working together beyond the Indo-Pacific region, including in the Western Hemisphere.
“That includes potentially, as I said, as we discussed a bit last night at dinner, in the Western Hemisphere and places like that,” he added.
Rubio’s visit comes amid growing engagement between New Delhi and Washington on defence, trade, critical technologies, energy security and Indo-Pacific cooperation. During his India trip, Rubio is also expected to participate in discussions linked to the Quad grouping and meet senior Indian leaders
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