United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio is holding talks with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar in New Delhi. Rubio's visit is aimed at stabilizing the strained relationship between India and the United States, which has reached its lowest point in over two decades.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, waits as US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, unseen, speaks at a dedication ceremony for an annex building at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India, Saturday, May 23, 2026.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, center left, and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, arrive to attend a dedication ceremony for an annex building at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India, Saturday, May 23, 2026. United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives at a dedication ceremony for an annex building at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India, Saturday, May 23, 2026.
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, left, waits as US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, speaks at a dedication ceremony for an annex building at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India, Saturday, May 23, 2026. United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio walks the red carpet before attending a reception at Roosevelt House, Saturday, May 23, 2026, at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India.
– U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is holding talks with his Indian counterpart Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Sunday as the two countries look to steady ties that have fallen to their lowest point in over two decades.
Rubio's visit comes during an economic and diplomatic downturn between the United States and India, strained largely by U.S. President Donald Trump'sRubio arrived Saturday on his first official visit to India ahead of a meeting set for Tuesday with his counterparts from India, Australia and Japan, which are members of the Indo-Pacific “India is at the cornerstone of how the United States approaches the Indo-Pacific, and not just through the Quad, but bilaterally,” Rubio said in New Delhi. His four-day visit will include a multicity tour and a gala reception in New Delhi marking the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.
“In the past one year, statements and rhetoric coming from Washington on some of India’s most sensitive security concerns and trade matters have not been helpful and have created a trust deficit,” said Ashok Malik, a former policy adviser in India’s Foreign Ministry. “Certain misgivings will remain,” Malik added, noting Rubio’s visit will be considered an achievement if the talks somewhat stabilize the relationship and check further deterioration.
Experts say friction exists between U.S. global strategic ambitions and India’s priorities as an emerging middle power. Historically close to Russia, India has long shown unease as it moves closer to the U.S., which reflects India's lingering distrust of American intentions rooted in cultural differences and Cold War-era instincts.
Still, India-U.S. ties steadily deepened over two decades into a broad, robust strategic partnership, increasingly shaped in recent years by shared concerns over China’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific and diplomatically articulated through the Quad forum.and aggressively pushing its maritime territorial claims. Beijing maintains that its military is purely defensive to protect what it says are China's sovereign rights and calls theideological alliesEconomic tensions followed, with the Trump administration imposing tariffs on India over its discounted purchases of Russian oil that further strained ties between the two countries.
“In India, there is some skepticism about U.S. policy and predictability,” said Malik, who heads the India chapter of The Asia Group advisory firm in the U.S. He said what has happened in the past year between India and the U.S. “can’t be forgotten or erased easily. ”broke out in February, the U.S. stepped up engagement with Pakistan, which positioned itself as a mediator between Washington and Tehran, deepening unease in New Delhi.
Trump’s recent, high-profile visit to China has only added to India’s discomfort. India-U.S. relations are challenging “due to a few structural tensions and Trump only brought them to the fore,” said Praveen Donthi, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group.
“New Delhi’s foreign policy, increasingly colored by its domestic politics, has become more black-and-white in the last decade, as evidenced by its deep discomfort with the U.S.’s ties with Pakistan and its moves toward detente with China,” Donthi said. Experts say these shifts reflect the growing complexity of India-U.S. relations rooted in shared strategic interests, yet increasingly shaped by competing priorities and a shifting geopolitical landscape.
“New Delhi is likely to exercise strategic patience and wait for Trump to leave office,” Donthi said. “India would hope that the bipartisan consensus on India in the U.S. survives his term and that it can start building on that again. ”Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Family seeks justice after an accused DUI driver with Stage 3 cancer kills Jacksonville grandmother10 years of coverages helps spur signing of bill that will raise Florida coaches’ payDelaune on the MONEY to Conner for their second TD connection of the day 🎯🏈🔥Delaune ➡️ TJ James for his THIRD passing TD of the night 😤🏈🔥Ty Keister ➡️ Chase Durden… and Durden puts the DEFENDER in a BLENDER for the YAC 🌀😮💨🏈🔥Stay Weather Ready this Memorial Day weekendRed Snapper fishing season put on pause one day before Florida anglers set to hit the waterCharter bus driver, 2 teens hurt after tire blows out, causes crash on I-95 in St. Johns County: FHP
Secretary Of State Marco Rubio U.S. Secretary Of State Visit To India Economic And Diplomatic Relations India-U.S. Relations Strategic Partnership Russia-U.S. Relations China-U.S. Relations Friction Between U.S. And India's Priorities India's Unease With The U.S. Shared Concerns Over China's Growing Assertive The Quad Forum Tariffs On India Over Discounted Russian Oil U.S. Policy And Predictability U.S. Intervention In Pakistan-Iran Relations China-U.S. Relations India's Deepening Discomfort With The U.S.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio Arrives in Sweden for NATO Meeting Amid UncertaintyUS Secretary of State Marco Rubio has arrived in Sweden ahead of a NATO foreign ministers meeting, as the Trump administration's intentions with the alliance remain uncertain. Rubio is set to attend a meeting of diplomats in Sweden on Friday, where senior Pentagon officials will brief the 32-nation alliance on plans for the US military's commitment to European defense.
Read more »
Rubio says 'some progress' made in Iran talks as Trump keeps options openHe added, “We’re not there yet,” but said he remains hopeful.
Read more »
Congo team must isolate to enter United States for World Cup amid Ebola outbreakAndrew Giuliani said Congo's soccer team must isolate for 21 days before entering the U.S. for the World Cup amid the country's Ebola outbreak.
Read more »
Kai Trump reveals Donald Trump’s ‘cute’ grandpa habitThe 19-year-old revealed this sweet gesture from the President of the United States.
Read more »