Rubio lands in India for 'trade diplomacy'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio landed in Mumbai on Tuesday for a trade-oriented diplomatic visit to India, marking his second official trip to the nation this year. Following stops in Uzbekistan, where he advocated for enhanced ties with Central Asian nations, Rubio engaged in discussions with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and met with business executives.

Since his prior visits to New Delhi and Kolkata in May, Rubio had also toured the iconic Taj Mahal and addressed Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was notably absent from this trip. Rubio's itinerary includes a stop in Jamnagar, Gujarat, a key hub for billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance conglomerate, including its mammoth refinery.

The diplomat is scheduled to lay a wreath in remembrance of the 2008 Mumbai attacks that claimed 166 lives. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had spoken with Rubio prior to his arrival, addressing concerns over the US military satellite system and missile delays. Zelensky, set to meet US envoys in Oslo, urged Rubio to "restore Starlink/Starshield" and stressed the importance of ballistic missile interceptors for national security.

Rubio's visit arrives amid ongoing challenges in finalizing a trade deal between India and the United States. Despite calls from Washington for an agreement, the task appears complex. During his stop in Samarkand, Rubio stated that Washington and New Delhi are "very close" to reaching a consensus, but a deal during his visit seems improbable.

The recent US tariff war under former President Donald Trump has added to tensions, particularly concerning India's imports of Russian oil and evolving relations with Pakistan, its regional rival.

Rubio addressed the issue of temporary US sanctions waivers for Russian oil, highlighting that Washington must balance various factors, including its relationships with other countries and their energy capacities. The US Supreme Court's recent decision to overturn Trump's sweeping tariffs has introduced uncertainty regarding the interim trade agreement's effectiveness.

Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently noted that negotiations have reached a "plateau," making further concessions challenging. Jaishankar met with his UAE counterpart in Mumbai, discussing the Gulf region's energy and security dynamics.