US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on 23 May, briefing him on “sustained progress” in the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership across defence, trade, strategic technologies, energy security, and people-to-people ties, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said. Rubio also extended a formal invitation on behalf of US President Donald Trump for Modi to visit the White House in the near future.

What Was Discussed

The PMO stated that Rubio briefed Modi on bilateral cooperation spanning defence, strategic technologies, trade and investment, energy security, connectivity, education, and people-to-people ties. Rubio also shared the US perspective on regional and global issues, including the situation in West Asia.

“Prime Minister reaffirmed India’s consistent support for peace efforts and reiterated the call for peaceful resolution of the conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy,” the PMO statement read.

What PM Modi Said

Following the meeting, Modi posted on X: “Happy to receive the US Secretary of State, Mr. Marco Rubio. We discussed sustained progress in the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and issues related to regional and global peace and security. India and the United States will continue to work closely for the global good.”

Modi also requested Rubio to convey his warm greetings to President Trump and said he looked forward to their continued exchanges, according to the PMO.

US Ambassador’s Remarks

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, who accompanied Rubio during the meeting, described the talks as a “productive discussion on ways to deepen US-India cooperation across security, trade, and critical technologies.” In a post on X, Gor called India a “vital partner to the United States” and separately confirmed that Rubio had extended Trump’s White House invitation to Modi.

Rubio’s India Itinerary and Broader Significance

Rubio arrived in Kolkata earlier in the day, kicking off a four-day visit to India scheduled from 23 to 26 May. He was received at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport by Ambassador Gor. Accompanied by his wife Jeanette Rubio, the Secretary of State also visited Mother House, the global headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity, in Kolkata.

Rubio is the first US Secretary of State to visit Kolkata since Hillary Clinton did so in May 2012. His visit also comes shortly after West Bengal witnessed a significant political shift, with a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government assuming power in the state.

The itinerary covers Kolkata, Agra, Jaipur, and New Delhi and is viewed as diplomatically significant given planned energy discussions and the upcoming Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi on 26 May. At the invitation of External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi will also attend the Quad meeting alongside Rubio.

Ahead of the visit, Rubio had described India as a “great ally” and “great partner,” signalling Washington’s intent to expand energy ties with New Delhi and deepen Quad coordination amid global supply disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the visit would “add further strength” to the India-US partnership. All eyes now turn to the Quad ministerial on 26 May, which is expected to set the agenda for Indo-Pacific security cooperation in the months ahead.