23/05/2026
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23/05/2026
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio leaves from The Mother Teresa House Of The Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata.
KOLKOTTA, May 23: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in India on Saturday for a four-day visit overshadowed by rising geopolitical tensions, energy security concerns and ongoing trade negotiations between Washington and New Delhi.
Rubio landed in the eastern Indian city of Kolkata before heading to Delhi, Jaipur and Agra as part of a high-stakes diplomatic tour expected to focus heavily on energy supplies disrupted by the Iran conflict and instability in the Strait of Hormuz.
The visit comes as India faces mounting pressure from soaring energy uncertainty after shipping through the strategic waterway was severely disrupted following military escalation involving Iran, Israel and the United States earlier this year. India imports more than 80 percent of its energy requirements, making it one of the countries most vulnerable to prolonged supply disruptions.
US Ambassador Sergio Gor visited Mother Teresa House of the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata during US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to India today.
Notably, Rubio’s India visit began not with strategic talks, technology partnerships, or security cooperation meetings, but with a stop at the Missionaries of Charity — coming shortly after several US politicians publicly questioned India’s sovereign decisions regarding FCRA-related restrictions.
Critics in India see the move as part of a familiar pattern: invoking selective “human rights” narratives while overlooking terror networks, radical ecosystems, and the persecution of minorities in regions backed by some of Washington’s own allies.
For many in India, the message is clear — the country’s internal laws and regulatory decisions are matters of national sovereignty, not subjects for external approval or political pressure.
Rubio is expected to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, with energy cooperation likely to dominate discussions. Ahead of the trip, Rubio signaled Washington’s willingness to increase energy exports to India, saying the US wanted to sell India “as much energy as they’ll buy.”
Analysts say New Delhi may seek additional concessions from Washington, including expanded waivers for importing Russian oil, as India scrambles to secure stable energy supplies amid the worsening regional crisis.
Rubio’s visit also comes amid lingering tensions over trade and regional diplomacy. While US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for helping ease last year’s India-Pakistan conflict, India has publicly rejected any suggestion of third-party mediation.
The trip also coincides with warming ties between Washington and Islamabad, particularly after Pakistan’s diplomatic role in indirect Iran-US contacts. Trump’s praise of Pakistani army chief Asim Munir has reportedly caused unease in New Delhi.
Despite differences, both sides have moved to ease trade frictions in recent months. The US earlier reduced reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods after months of negotiations, while India committed to boosting imports of American products, including energy, aircraft, technology and agricultural goods under a broader interim trade framework.
Rubio is also scheduled to attend a meeting of Quad foreign ministers in Delhi on May 26 alongside representatives from Japan and Australia, as the grouping seeks to revive momentum amid growing concerns over China’s regional influence.
The visit is being closely watched as India balances deepening ties with Washington while preparing to host a BRICS summit later this year involving China, Russia, Iran and Saudi Arabia.
