Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, May 23: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held crucial discussions on security, trade and strategic cooperation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who also extended an invitation from US President Donald Trump for the Prime Minister to visit the White House.
The meeting focused on strengthening the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, along with key issues concerning regional and global peace and security.
US envoy Sergio Gor, who accompanied Rubio during the meeting, said the discussions also covered developments in the Indo-Pacific region, where China has increasingly attempted to expand its influence. The United States continues to view India as a major strategic partner in maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
In a post on X, Gor described the meeting as productive and said both sides discussed ways to deepen cooperation in security, trade and critical technologies.
Following the talks, PM Modi shared details of the meeting on X and said India and the United States would continue to work closely for global peace and development.
The meeting assumes significance amid reports that the Trump administration was considering renewed military strikes on Iran after peace negotiations reportedly failed to achieve a breakthrough.
Rubio is also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday and attend the US Embassy’s Independence Day celebrations.
On Monday, Rubio will travel to Agra and Jaipur before returning to Delhi on Tuesday for the Quad Foreign Ministers’ Meeting.
According to sources familiar with the developments, discussions between Jaishankar and Rubio are expected to focus on enhancing cooperation in energy, trade, investment, critical technology and people-to-people ties.
The two sides are also likely to discuss the West Asia crisis and its possible impact on global energy supplies and the world economy.
Rubio’s visit comes more than five weeks after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri visited Washington DC for talks aimed at stabilising bilateral ties following recent tensions.
Relations between New Delhi and Washington had witnessed strain after the US imposed punitive tariffs on India and President Trump repeatedly claimed that he had helped de-escalate the India-Pakistan military conflict last May.
India, however, maintained that the cessation of hostilities was achieved through direct talks between New Delhi and Pakistan, asserting that the United States had no role in the process.