US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reached Kolkata on Saturday (May 23, 2026). This is his first visit to India. Rubio’s India tour is starting from Kolkata. He will reach Delhi in the evening, where he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also interact with the media.

US Special Envoy to India Sergio Gore wrote on Twitter, ‘Today Marco Rubio will meet Prime Minister Modi. During this visit, there will be discussions on many issues including trade, technology, defence, QUAD.

Secretary Marco Rubio has landed in Kolkata. This is his first trip to India. Later today, we will call on Prime Minister @narendramodi in New Delhi. Trade, Technology, Defense, QUAD, and many other items to discuss and advance over the next few days!

— Ambassador Sergio Gor (@USAmbIndia) May 23, 2026

The purpose of Rubio’s visit is to improve bilateral relations that have been strained since last year. America’s Foreign Minister Rubio will also hold a meeting with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar during this period. He will also hold a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Apart from this, he will also participate in the meeting of foreign ministers of ‘QUAD’ countries in New Delhi.

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Today PM Modi, tomorrow meeting S Jaishankar

After attending a program in Kolkata, he will leave for New Delhi in the afternoon to meet Prime Minister Modi. He is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Jaishankar on Sunday and will also attend the Independence Day celebrations organized by the US Embassy. Rubio will travel to Agra and Jaipur on Monday. Then on Tuesday morning the Quad will return to Delhi for the meeting of foreign ministers.

Regarding the India visit, Rubio said on Friday, ‘There are many issues to be worked on with India. They are an important ally and partner of ours. We do many good works with them, so this visit is very important.

Rubio’s visit after Indian Foreign Secretary’s US visit

According to officials, the main issues in the talks between Jaishankar and Rubio will be energy, trade, investment, important technology and ways to strengthen people-to-people contacts. The two sides are also expected to discuss the Middle East crisis and its economic implications, especially energy supplies. The US Secretary of State’s visit to India comes nearly five weeks after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri’s three-day visit to Washington DC.

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Tension between India and US increases after tariff

There was tension in the relations between the two countries when America imposed tariffs on India and US President Donald Trump made controversial claims in May last year about his role in reducing the India-Pakistan military conflict. Subsequently, over the next few months the US President publicly claimed several times that he had resolved the military conflict between the two neighboring countries and saved millions of lives as the situation was heading towards full-scale war. However, India rejected Trump’s claims and said that America had no role in it.

Talk took place between PM Modi and Trump on April 14
America’s new immigration policy and decision to increase H1B visa fees also soured relations between the two countries. However, in the last few months both sides have made efforts to improve relations. Both the countries have resolved to finalize a mutually beneficial trade agreement soon. Trump spoke on phone with Prime Minister Modi for about 40 minutes on April 14. After this conversation, Modi said that he and Trump reviewed the important progress made in bilateral relations and both sides are committed to further strengthening the strategic partnership.