US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to begin a multi-city visit to India this weekend, marking his first extensive tour of the country since taking office, amid growing questions over President Donald Trump’s evolving approach toward South Asia.
Image: The Indian Express
Rubio’s visit comes at a time when the traditional US strategy of cultivating India as a strategic counterweight to China appears to be undergoing reassessment under the Trump administration.
Since the late 1990s, successive US administrations have prioritised closer ties with India despite occasional disagreements, viewing New Delhi as a key regional partner against Beijing’s growing influence.
However, President Trump has recently adopted a different tone, focusing heavily on improving ties with China while also reviving engagement with Pakistan, which has played an active diplomatic role in recent regional crises, including mediation efforts during the Iran conflict.
Rubio’s deputy, Christopher Landau, had earlier warned against allowing India to gain commercial advantages over the United States, signalling possible tensions over trade and economic competition.
Despite this, bilateral ties between Washington and New Delhi continue to expand in areas including trade and defence cooperation.
During the visit, Rubio is expected to travel to New Delhi, Kolkata, Agra and Jaipur. In the Indian capital, he will attend a reception marking the 250th anniversary of US independence and hold talks with foreign ministers from the Quad alliance comprising the United States, India, Australia and Japan.
Analysts say India is seeking greater clarity regarding whether strategic cooperation against China will remain central to US-India relations under Trump’s second term.
The visit has reportedly been strongly backed by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, who is considered a close ally of President Trump and has played an influential role in shaping the administration’s India policy.
