New Delhi/Bhopal May 23, 2026. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held talks with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New Delhi, with both sides discussing ways to deepen cooperation in defence, trade, strategic technologies, energy security and regional matters.

The agency quoted the Prime Minister’s Office as saying that Rubio briefed Modi on the steady progress in India-US cooperation across key sectors, including defence, connectivity, education, investment and people-to-people ties. The US Secretary of State also shared Washington’s assessment on regional and global developments, including the evolving situation in West Asia. During the discussions, Modi reiterated India’s consistent support for peace efforts and stressed that conflicts should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy. The Prime Minister also asked Rubio to convey his warm greetings to US President Donald Trump and said he looked forward to continued interactions with him.

External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor and US Under Secretary of State Allison Hooker were also present during the meeting. Calling the discussions productive, Ambassador Gor said India and the United States were continuing to strengthen cooperation in areas linked to a free and open Indo-Pacific region. “We had a productive discussion on ways to deepen U.S.-India cooperation across security, trade and critical technologies. India is a vital partner to the United States,” Gor said in a post on X. Earlier, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said Rubio’s visit would further strengthen the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership. Rubio arrived in India on Saturday for a four-day visit from May 23 to 26. Accompanied by his wife Jeanette D Rubio, Ambassador Sergio Gor and US Principal Deputy National Security Advisor Robert Gabriel, Rubio began his India visit from Kolkata, where he visited the Missionaries of Charity and paid tribute to Mother Teresa. “I was honoured to visit the Missionaries of Charity today and pay homage to her legacy,” Rubio said on X. The visit comes ahead of the upcoming Quadrilateral Security Dialogue foreign ministers’ meeting scheduled in New Delhi on May 26. Rubio is also expected to visit Agra and Jaipur during his India tour. Officials reportedly said the high-level engagements during the visit would focus on expanding cooperation in defence, trade, advanced technologies, energy security and Indo-Pacific collaboration under the QUAD framework.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in New Delhi at a time when India’s global importance is steadily growing across diplomatic, economic and strategic platforms. His four-day visit is being seen as a sign of how important India has become in the changing global order. From Washington to Europe and from the Indo-Pacific to West Asia, major powers today increasingly see India as a stable and trusted partner. The visit comes amid rising geopolitical tensions across the world. Despite global divisions, India has managed to maintain engagement with multiple power centres simultaneously. Whether it is strengthening ties with the United States, maintaining defence relations with Russia, expanding trade talks with Europe or managing challenges with China, India’s balanced diplomacy has drawn global attention. Rubio’s visit also reflects Washington’s recognition of India’s growing role in the Indo-Pacific and the Global South. Reports suggest the United States views India as a key strategic partner for regional stability and secure economic and maritime corridors. At the same time, instability in West Asia, China’s growing influence and Russia’s continued strategic relevance have made global diplomacy more complicated. In such a situation, India’s ability to maintain relations across different geopolitical camps has strengthened its international standing.

Strategic experts believe the renewed American outreach reflects changing global realities. China’s growing influence, instability in West Asia and shifting geopolitical alliances have collectively made India one of the world’s most important strategic partners. Diplomatic observers say Rubio’s Delhi visit is aimed at rebuilding confidence after occasional friction over trade issues and India’s continued engagement with Russia in defence and energy sectors. However, both sides appear aware that long-term strategic cooperation is far bigger than temporary disagreements.

The visit also comes at a time when India and the European Union are accelerating trade discussions. Europe increasingly sees India not only as a major economic market but also as a stable democratic force in an uncertain global environment. At the same time, many experts believe the United States does not want to lose strategic ground in India as Europe, Russia and several Global South nations continue strengthening ties with New Delhi. The changing tone of American diplomacy reflects a larger reality that India is no longer viewed only as a regional power, but as an independent global player capable of balancing relations with multiple power centres simultaneously.