This is Marco Rubio's first visit to India as US Secretary of State, taking place against the backdrop of both Washington and New Delhi seeking to maintain the momentum of their comprehensive strategic partnership, which has been built and expanded over the past two decades. According to the US State Department, the visit's agenda focuses on key areas of cooperation such as trade, defense, energy, technology, and coordination within the framework of the Quad group: the US, India, Japan, and Australia.
On the very first day of his visit, Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The two sides discussed measures to boost economic cooperation, expand bilateral trade, and strengthen energy cooperation amidst regional and global uncertainties. Following the meeting, Mr. Rubio emphasized that India plays a "foundational" role in the US strategy in the Indo-Pacific region, not only bilaterally but also within multilateral cooperation mechanisms such as the Quad.
For many years, the United States has considered India one of its most important partners in Asia, particularly in the context of increasing geopolitical competition in the Indo-Pacific region. The US administration has consistently promoted policies to strengthen relations with New Delhi in the areas of economics, defense, technology, and regional security. However, recently, differences in interests and approaches on certain international issues have emerged between the two countries.
One of the prominent issues is the US tariff policy on Indian goods. Last year, the Trump administration imposed high tariffs on a number of Indian imports, including measures related to New Delhi's continued imports of oil from Russia. Although the two sides subsequently reached some interim agreements to ease trade tensions, the US and India have yet to finalize a comprehensive trade agreement.
Energy issues were also a hot topic. Amidst conflict and tensions in the Middle East affecting global energy markets, the US sought to expand energy exports to India and support New Delhi in diversifying its supply sources. Secretary of State Marco Rubio affirmed that US energy products could play a crucial role in ensuring India's energy security. Prior to the visit, he also stated that Washington wanted to strengthen energy cooperation with New Delhi in the near future. Meanwhile, India continued to maintain an independent and balanced foreign policy on energy issues, including continuing to import oil from Russia to meet domestic demand and ensure economic stability.
Another factor influencing New Delhi's strategic sentiment is the recent increase in US engagement with Pakistan amid complex developments in South Asia. Furthermore, some Indian analysts suggest that New Delhi is closely monitoring the Trump administration's approach to China and the role of the Quad in Washington's regional strategy.
Over the past 25 years, US-India relations have developed strongly in many areas, from economics, defense, and technology to regional and international cooperation. Under President Joe Biden's administration, the US paid special attention to its relationship with India. Entering his second term, President Donald Trump continued to affirm his commitment to the relationship with New Delhi, although his more commercially driven approach and pragmatic foreign policy led to some adjustments in bilateral relations. According to many experts, it is crucial for both the US and India now to continue dialogue, manage differences, and promote mutually beneficial areas of cooperation.
In the context of a rapidly changing global geopolitical environment, the US needs India as a crucial regional partner, while New Delhi also views Washington as a key partner in technology, investment, defense, and supply chains. Therefore, Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit is not merely diplomatic in nature but also a step to reaffirm both sides' commitment to the US-India strategic partnership in this new phase.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/ngoai-truong-my-tham-an-do-thu-hep-khac-biet-tang-cuong-hop-tac-922930.html
![[Image] Close-up view of the interchange connecting the two expressways and Long Thanh Airport.](https://vphoto.vietnam.vn/thumb/1200x675/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2026/05/25/1779703378210_ndo_br_z7863716673926-224453a31600126cce10622af6290afd-4549-jpg.webp)
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