US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump is likely to visit India early next year. The proposed visit comes as both countries work to finalise a bilateral trade agreement. The trip could help strengthen diplomatic and economic ties between Washington and New Delhi.
Rubio told Indian news agency IANS that preparations for the visit are already underway. He said he is likely to travel to India later this year to help organise Trump’s trip. According to Rubio, the United States aims to schedule the presidential visit sometime early next year.
The announcement follows a meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France last week. Trump described their discussions as very positive after the bilateral meeting. Meanwhile, India has pushed for months to secure Trump’s visit, potentially alongside leaders from Japan and Australia.
Relations between the two countries have remained strained over the past year despite continued engagement. Washington imposed higher tariffs on Indian goods over New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil. Ties also faced renewed pressure after three Indian sailors were killed during US Navy attacks on commercial ships in the Gulf.
Despite recent tensions, Rubio expressed optimism about the ongoing trade negotiations with India. He said both sides were in the final stages of reaching a bilateral trade agreement. Rubio added that discussions had progressed positively and suggested a deal could be concluded soon.