USIBC Says Rubio’s India Visit Builds Momentum for Quad Cooperation
WASHINGTON — The U.S.-India Business Council welcomed a series of strategic initiatives announced during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to India, saying the outcomes showed renewed momentum for the Quad and deeper economic ambition between Washington and New Delhi.
In a statement issued after the visit, USIBC praised the signing of the U.S.-India Framework on Critical Minerals and Rare Earths, calling it a major step toward expanding cooperation in mining, processing and advanced technology supply chains.
“The Framework creates actionable pathways for investment, off-take agreements, co-development, and technology partnerships spanning mining, processing, and rare earth magnet value chains,” the group said.
USIBC also welcomed the Quad’s Critical Minerals Framework, saying it “further reinforces the multilateral architecture underpinning these bilateral gains.”
The council said the launch of the Quad Fuel Security Forum and the broader Quad Initiative on Indo-Pacific Energy Security came at a critical time, as disruptions to key maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, have driven fuel and fertilizer price volatility across the Indo-Pacific.
USIBC said India’s role as one of the world’s largest crude importers and an emerging clean energy hub makes it a natural partner for U.S. companies seeking to invest in regional energy resilience.
The group also pointed to progress in trusted digital infrastructure, undersea cable connectivity and next-generation communications standards as key commercial openings for American and Indian businesses.
It also highlighted initiatives tied to “Ports of the Future,” as well as biomanufacturing and pharmaceutical supply chain resilience across the Indo-Pacific.
“This week’s announcements on energy security, critical minerals, and maritime ports demonstrate there is a lot of life and logic to the Quad and hosting the meeting in New Delhi, capping off Secretary Rubio’s landmark visit, reinforces India’s role as a vital global partner,” USIBC President Atul Keshap said.
At the bilateral level, the council said it sees “strong commercial potential” in the TRUST framework for strategic technology cooperation, civilian nuclear power, data centers, defense co-production and movement toward a broader trade arrangement.
USIBC said the developments show “the full depth of ambition the U.S.-India partnership can deliver.”
The organization said it would work with industry partners to support implementation of the newly announced frameworks and create more opportunities for trade, investment and commercial cooperation.
“The world’s leading democracies are at their best when they lead together, and USIBC will help turn this diplomatic momentum into even more robust and enduring economic partnership India and the United States,” the group said.
The Quad, which includes India, the United States, Japan and Australia, has expanded its agenda in recent years beyond security cooperation to include supply chains, emerging technologies, critical minerals, infrastructure and energy security. (Source: IANS)
