Devendra Fadnavis Welcomes US Secretary Of State Marco Rubio At Mumbai's Gateway Of India

Mumbai's Gateway of India witnessed a warm welcome on Tuesday as Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis met with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Accompanied by Maharashtra Cultural Affairs Minister Ashish Shelar and senior state government officials, well as Mumbai Police personnel, Rubio was greeted by a delegation from Maharashtra.

President Donald Trump's recent temporary waiver of sanctions, tariffs and restrictions under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026 has set the stage for Rubio's visit. The upcoming discussions are expected to focus on strengthening diplomatic engagement in key areas such as trade, defence and strategic cooperation.

During his time in Mumbai, Rubio plans to pay respects to the victims of the 26/11 terror attacks at the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. The hotel was one of the primary targets during the 2008 attacks, and Rubio is set to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony to honor the fallen.

Rubio will then engage in bilateral talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, covering topics such as defense and security cooperation, emerging technologies, critical minerals, and economic relations. The discussions will also address strengthening the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership, as well as recent conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia, and their implications for global food, fuel, and fertiliser security.

The visit is scheduled to conclude with Rubio attending the Freedom 250 Reception at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, commemorating a significant milestone in India-US relations. Rubio is expected to depart Mumbai on Wednesday for Jamnagar in Gujarat.