Rubio Says US And India Are ‘Perfectly Aligned’ As Trade Talks Near Conclusion

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said India and the United States were “perfectly aligned” on the questions that would shape the century, as both governments welcomed progress towards a bilateral trade agreement and pledged to conclude it early

Image Via: @SecRubio on X

Rubio held talks in Mumbai with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on 20 October at the start of a two-day visit, his second to India after one in May. India’s foreign ministry said the two reviewed the full range of relations and exchanged views on trade, defence, technology and energy security, as well as on regional and global developments.

Addressing Indian business leaders at a reception marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, Rubio said the relationship was defining, in a positive way, what the twenty-first century could look like. He named emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and quantum computing, and the security of trade routes as the areas where the two countries’ interests converged most closely.

Both sought “a free and secure Indo-Pacific” in which “no nation can claim dominance or ownership of international shipping lanes”, he said, describing the two as fully aligned on the point. He did not name any country.

He also acknowledged limits. No two nations would agree on everything and there would be points of disagreement, he said, but on the core issues defining each country’s national interest the alignment was extraordinary. He signalled no change to tariffs, regulatory policy or market access.

Earlier, Rubio laid a wreath at the memorial at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel to those killed in the November 2008 attacks in Mumbai, and said the United States was committed to dismantling terrorist networks and bringing those responsible to justice.

Jaishankar said six Americans died in the attacks and welcomed the administration’s decision to extradite Tahawwur Hussain Rana, whom he described as one of the main perpetrators. India expected its partners to show zero tolerance towards terrorism, he said.

Rubio said Washington should engage with India more often and that he intended to return in three months.