Foreign secretary Vikram Misri meets Marco Rubio

NEW DELHI: US secretary of state Marco Rubio is set to visit India next month following a “productive” meeting with foreign secretary Vikram Misri in Washington, where both sides reviewed key aspects of the bilateral partnership, including trade, defence and the Quad.Misri, currently on a three-day visit to the US, met Rubio at the White House. US ambassador to India Sergio Gor said the meeting focused on “our bilateral relationship, especially trade, critical minerals, defence and the Quad,” adding that Rubio “looks forward to visiting India next month.”Replying to Gor, Indian embassy in USA wrote, “During his ongoing visit, foreign secretary Shri Vikram Misri called on secretary of state Marco Rubio today. We look forward to deepening our engagement in these important sectors and much more to strengthen the 🇮🇳-🇺🇸 Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.”

Focus on defence, trade and strategic ties

During his visit, Misri held a series of high-level engagements across the US administration, aimed at strengthening strategic cooperation. Discussions covered defence ties, technology sharing and supply chain integration under the India-US Major Defence Partnership framework.At the Pentagon, Misri met senior officials, including Elbridge Colby and Mike Duffey, focusing on defence exchanges and industrial cooperation. Talks also extended to the department of commerce, where he discussed expanding collaboration in critical technologies and resilient supply chains.The Indian embassy said these engagements were aimed at “transforming the India-US partnership for the 21st century,” including cooperation in AI and critical minerals.

Regional security, Middle East developments discussed

The evolving situation in the Middle East and broader geopolitical concerns were also high on the agenda. Misri’s meeting with US deputy secretary Christopher Landau included discussions on developments in the Persian Gulf and other regional priorities.He also met FBI director Kash Patel, with both sides exchanging views on cooperation in counterterrorism, organised crime and narcotics.

Quad cooperation and future roadmap

US under secretary of state Allison Hooker said both sides explored “practical ways to make both Americans and Indians safer and more prosperous, including through the Quad”.The visit comes amid heightened global tensions and underscores continued momentum in India-US ties, with both sides working to deepen cooperation across defence, economic and strategic domains.