Rubio in India: Marco Rubio Concludes Kolkata Visit, Heads to New Delhi | WION

Added: 2026-05-23

[00:00:00]After NATO talks in Sweden, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in India for a high-level diplomatic visit. Now, his visit comes at a sensitive time in US India ties with talks expected on trade, energy, defense, and strategic cooperation. As part of his India visit, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio landed in West Bengal's capital, Kolkata, where he was received by US Ambassador Sergio Gor. And during his visit to the state, the Kolkata leg of his tour comes at a politically significant time for West Bengal.

[00:00:35]After his arrival, Marco Rubio and his wife visited Mother Teresa's House of Missionaries of Charity, and they paid their respect at Saint Teresa's tomb and toured the place where she lived and worked. The Missionaries of Charity, founded by Mother Teresa in Kolkata, is a Catholic congregation dedicated to serving the poor, sick, and destitute across the world. Marco Rubio also visited a children's home, Nirmala Shishu Bhavan, run by the Missionaries of Charity in the city.

[00:01:14]Wrapping up his visit to Kolkata, Marco Rubio has now left for New Delhi, where he is now scheduled to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

[00:01:27]But tomorrow, he will be holding talks with External Affairs Minister S.

[00:01:31]Jaishankar and celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence at the US Embassy on Monday. Marco Rubio will visit Agra and Jaipur before returning to the capital for the Quad Foreign Ministers meeting on Tuesday.

[00:01:48]Now, the meeting hosted by India will also see participation from Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi. Alongside India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

[00:02:02]Ahead of his visit, Rubio said that the US is ready to sell India as much energy as it is willing to buy. He has described India as a great ally and partner. Rubio's remarks says are part of a broader effort by Washington to reassure India at a time when both sides are trying to manage new strategic and political differences. Rubio has said that Washington is ready to supply New Delhi with oil, gas, and other energy resources, and the only limit is how much India is willing to purchase. India is already one of the top importers of American liquefied natural gas, but the US wants to go further.

[00:02:41]Last year, the Trump administration imposed a 50% import tariff on India, including penalties linked to India's purchase of Russian oil under US sanctions. The tariff rate was to be brought down by uh to 18% under a tentative trade deal announced in February. But that was before the US Supreme Court scrapped the tariffs.

[00:03:04]The tariffs and US President Donald Trump's perceived closeness to Pakistan have caused a strain in India-US ties.

[00:03:13]Now, it will be up to Marco Rubio to undo the damage.

[00:03:23]And to give us more details on the developments, our correspondent Ayan Kushal has sent us a report from Kolkata. Let's listen.

[00:03:30]The first day of the visit of India by Marco Rubio had actually started from the city of joy, Kolkata, and then afternoon, he will meet informally the Prime Minister of India, Mr. Narendra Modi. Tomorrow, Sunday, there is a high-voltage meeting between Jaishankar and Marco Rubio. This meeting might give India something very positive. India currently is suffering from acute fuel crisis. US already agreed India to give so many fuel as much as New Delhi needed. But the big question is that on what condition US will give fuel to India? Are they wanting some return gift from India? And if so, what are they? Is the big question in the bilateral talk.

[00:04:20]Now, the entire talk is actually the bird's eye for the people of India because people of India are already suffering from fuel crisis. The price of petrol and diesel increases twice a week. Now, India may control this damage by getting fuel from United States of America as well as US is actually wanting to melting the eye because the melting of eyes is very necessary.

[00:04:50]India and USA are friends forever. But if we see the development from the latter half of 2025, so many decisions taken by US President Donald Trump actually decrease the good relationship between India and United States. Now, will this decreasing relationship improve once again is the big question.

[00:05:15]With cameraman Arindam, this is Ayan from Kolkata.