Rubio To Hold Talks With EAM Jaishankar, Honour 26/11 Victims During Mumbai Visit
WASHINGTON–US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will begin his India visit in Mumbai on Tuesday with a tribute to the victims of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks and talks with External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, before travelling to Reliance Industries’ refining hub in Jamnagar, amid indications from Washington that a long-awaited trade deal with New Delhi is nearing completion.
The US State Department said the visit would mark Rubio’s “second official visit this year” to India.
“He will meet with senior government officials to strengthen the U.S.-India strategic partnership, exchange views on regional and global dynamics, and discuss prospects for enhanced energy cooperation,” the department said in a media note announcing his travel to Samarkand, Mumbai and Jamnagar from October 17 to 22.
“Secretary Rubio will also meet with business leaders to promote opportunities for commercial investment and economic cooperation,” it added.
According to India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Rubio is scheduled to arrive in Mumbai at 2.15 pm IST on Tuesday and lay a wreath at the 26/11 memorial at the Taj Mahal Palace hotel at 3.40 pm.
His meeting with Jaishankar is scheduled for 3.50 pm, followed by a “Freedom 250” reception at 6.35 pm. Rubio is also expected to meet Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
The wreath-laying ceremony at the site of the November 2008 attacks, which killed 166 people, including six Americans, is expected to underscore US solidarity with India on counter-terrorism cooperation.
The visit comes as New Delhi remains cautious about Washington’s engagement with Pakistan’s military leadership, an issue that has figured in the broader regional security landscape.
Rubio is scheduled to travel to Jamnagar in Gujarat on October 21, where his programme is expected to include engagements linked to energy and business cooperation.
Speaking to reporters in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on Monday, Rubio said the United States was close to finalising a trade agreement with India.
“We’re trying to finalize a trade deal with India right now. We’re very close to doing that,” he said.
“So … that’s one of the things we take into consideration when the President makes a decision about national security waivers,” Rubio added, referring to US President Donald Trump’s waiver on penalties targeting buyers of Russian energy.
A trade agreement would mark a significant step in efforts by the two countries to resolve differences over tariffs and other economic issues. Negotiations have been complicated by US tariff measures and India’s continued purchases of Russian oil.
Rubio’s meetings with Indian officials are expected to provide an opportunity to discuss bilateral trade, energy cooperation, regional security and the wider strategic partnership between the two countries. (Source: IANS)
