India-US ties: Rubio to visit India in May after talks with Misri at White House

US secretary of state Marco Rubio is set to visit New Delhi next month, it was announced after his “productive meeting” with India’s foreign secretary Vikram Misri on a range of issues, including trade and the Quad.

Misri, who is on a three-day visit to Washington, met Rubio at the White House. The two leaders reviewed bilateral relations, especially trade, critical minerals, defence and the Quad.

“Welcome to the White House @VikramMisri! Productive meeting with @SecRubio that focused on our bilateral relationship, especially trade, critical minerals, defence and the Quad,” US ambassador to India Sergio Gor, who was also present at the meeting, posted on X.

Secretary Rubio looks forward to visiting India next month, Gor said.

Earlier, Misri held separate meetings with US deputy secretary Christopher Landau and US under secretary of state for political affairs Allison Hooker.

“Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met with Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri today in Washington. The leaders reaffirmed the close partnership between the two countries and shared news about the situation in the Persian Gulf and other global and regional priorities,” Tommy Pigott, principal deputy spokesman for the department of state, said in a statement.

Hooker said she and Misri discussed how India and the US can work closer together on security, defence and the economy.

“We are finding practical ways to make both Americans and Indians safer and more prosperous, including through the Quad,” she said.

The Indian embassy in the US said Hooker and Misri took stock of the India-US bilateral agenda since the foreign office consultations held last December.

The two diplomats also shared assessments on recent developments in West Asia, as well as regional issues of mutual interest.

US vice president J D Vance is leading a delegation to Islamabad for talks with Iranian leaders after the warring sides agreed to a two-week Pakistan-brokered ceasefire.