23 May,2026 10:55 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, called on PM Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday. Pic/X
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during his meeting with Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday, said Washington would not allow Iran to hold the global energy market âhostage' and underscored that US energy products could help diversify India's energy supply, according to the US State Department.
In a statement, Tommy Pigott, spokesperson for the US State Department, said Rubio and PM Modi discussed the West Asia conflict and reviewed recent bilateral gains, including major investments aligned with the President and Prime Minister's "Mission 500" target to double trade by 2030, news agency IANS reported.
Pigott said Rubio highlighted the strategic importance of the US-India partnership, which, he noted, is built on shared democratic values, strong economic and commercial opportunities, and the personal ties between President Trump and PM Modi.
"In New Delhi, I met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to underscore the importance of the US-India relationship. We discussed the situation in the Middle East and US-India partnership in energy, securing critical supply chains, and collaboration on emerging technologies. I was pleased to invite Prime Minister Modi to the White House on behalf of the President," Rubio posted on X after the meeting.
The US Secretary of State also extended an invitation on behalf of President Trump to PM Modi to visit the White House.
Pigott said the two leaders agreed to deepen trade and defence cooperation and accelerate collaboration on critical and emerging technologies.
Rubio also expressed appreciation for India hosting the upcoming Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting and said he looked forward to advancing a free and open Indo-Pacific region alongside Australia, India and Japan.
The US Secretary of State met PM Modi soon after arriving in New Delhi. After the meeting, PM Modi said India and the United States (US) would continue to work closely for the global good.
"Happy to receive the US Secretary of State, Mr. Marco Rubio. We discussed sustained progress in the India-US Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and issues related to regional and global peace and security. India and the United States will continue to work closely for the global good," PM Modi wrote on X.
The Prime Minister's Office said Rubio briefed Modi on the sustained progress in bilateral cooperation across several sectors, including defence, strategic technologies, trade and investment, energy security, connectivity, education, and people-to-people ties.
"Secretary Rubio shared US perspective on various regional and global issues, including the situation in West Asia. Prime Minister reaffirmed India's consistent support for peace efforts and reiterated the call for peaceful resolution of the conflicts through dialogue and diplomacy," the PMO said in a statement after the meeting.
"Prime Minister requested Secretary Rubio to convey his warm greetings to President Trump and said that he looked forward to their continued exchanges," it added.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also said on X that the two sides had a "productive discussion" on deepening cooperation across multiple sectors.
He described India as a "vital partner" for the US.
"Great to join Secretary Rubio for a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We had a productive discussion on ways to deepen US-India cooperation across security, trade, and critical technologies - areas that strengthen both our nations and advance a free and open Indo-Pacific. India is a vital partner to the United States!" Gor posted on X.
In another post, he added, "News! Secretary Marco Rubio extended an invite on behalf of President Donald Trump, for Prime Minister Modi to visit the White House in the near future!"
Earlier in the day, Rubio arrived in Kolkata, beginning his four-day visit to India. He was received by Ambassador Gor at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.
Accompanied by his wife Jeanette, the US Secretary of State visited Mother House, the headquarters of the Missionaries of Charity in Kolkata.
Rubio's India itinerary, scheduled from Sunday, May 23, to Tuesday, May 26, and also covering Agra, Jaipur, and New Delhi, is being seen as diplomatically significant because of planned energy discussions with India and meetings involving ministers from Quad nations.
India is set to host the Quad Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi on May 26. At the invitation of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, Penny Wong and Toshimitsu Motegi, Australian and the foreign ministers of Australia and Japan, respectively, will also be in India for the meeting along with Rubio.
Ahead of his India visit, Rubio said Washington wanted to expand energy ties with New Delhi and deepen coordination through the Quad, while describing India as a "great ally" and "great partner" amid supply disruptions linked to the Strait of Hormuz.
The Ministry of External Affairs said on Saturday that Rubio's visit would further strengthen the India-USA Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership.
(With IANS inputs)
