US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday departed India, saying his visit had advanced the economic and strategic priorities of both countries in the region, while emphasising the importance of strengthening bilateral economic ties and energy security cooperation.
In a post on X, Rubio said, “Just departed India having advanced our economic and strategic priorities in the region.”
“Continuing to build our economic partnership and energy security cooperation makes both our nations stronger,” he added.
Just departed India having advanced our economic and strategic priorities in the region. Continuing to build our economic partnership and energy security cooperation makes both our nations stronger. https://t.co/SaZK1QbpsO
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) October 22, 2026
The visit came amid efforts by New Delhi and Washington to strengthen their strategic partnership, advance negotiations on a proposed bilateral trade agreement and expand cooperation in the energy sector.
During his engagements in Mumbai, Rubio held talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on the India-US strategic partnership and progress in negotiations on the proposed trade agreement. The discussions came as both countries continued efforts to deepen economic ties and explore avenues for greater cooperation across key sectors.
Rubio’s visit also comes amid efforts to strengthen the Quad partnership between India, the United States, Japan and Australia. The grouping has been seeking to expand cooperation in areas including maritime security, critical minerals, emerging technologies and energy security, alongside its broader strategic objectives in the Indo-Pacific region.
India-US energy cooperation in focus
Rubio also paid floral tributes to the victims of the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which claimed the lives of six American nationals, underscoring the shared concern over terrorism and the importance of bilateral cooperation on security issues.
Energy security remained another significant aspect of the broader India-US relationship. Discussions between the two countries have taken place against the backdrop of India’s energy requirements, its imports of Russian petroleum and opportunities to expand purchases of American energy resources.
The visit also brought attention to a potential investment by Reliance Industries in a new petroleum processing facility in the United States. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor had highlighted the proposed project in the context of efforts to boost domestic energy production and create employment opportunities.
Rubio’s remarks following his departure highlighted Washington’s focus on advancing economic cooperation and energy security alongside broader strategic priorities. Both countries have continued to explore ways to strengthen their partnership through trade negotiations, energy cooperation and engagement on regional issues.
(With ANI inputs)
