US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in India on Tuesday for his second official visit this year, aiming to advance trade negotiations and strengthen bilateral relations amid ongoing diplomatic tensions.
Rubio is scheduled to meet Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and business leaders in Mumbai before travelling to Jamnagar, Gujarat, home to the world’s largest oil refinery operated by Reliance Industries. He is also expected to pay tribute to the victims of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which killed 166 people. No meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi is planned during this visit.
The visit comes as Washington and New Delhi struggle to finalise a long-delayed trade agreement. Rubio said on Monday that both countries were “very close” to reaching a deal, although expectations of an immediate breakthrough remain limited.
Trade disagreements have intensified over US tariff policies and India’s continued imports of Russian oil. Relations have also faced challenges amid Washington’s improving ties with Pakistan.
The two countries reached an interim trade framework in February, but legal uncertainty surrounding US tariffs complicated its implementation. Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently said negotiations had reached a difficult stage, leaving limited room for further concessions.
Rubio’s visit is expected to focus on trade, investment and energy cooperation as both governments seek progress despite unresolved economic and strategic differences.
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