As the US celebrated its 250th independence day in Delhi, the US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, dialled US President Donald Trump for a live discussion. Alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the discussion was centred around good bilateral relations, where the President showered high praises for India and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
In the conversation, President Trump made it clear that India had complete trust in him and that they knew exactly who to contact whenever they needed any kind of help. He noted that the US was currently setting records with its economy and stock market, and reiterated his admiration for Prime Minister Modi. President Trump also commended Marco Rubio, predicting he would go down as the greatest Secretary of State in US history, and asked for his warmest regards to be passed on to the Indian Prime Minister.
Separately, during a joint press conference, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio extended high praise to India's External Affairs Minister, Dr S Jaishankar, whilst underscoring the expanding strategic partnership between the two nations. Rubio expressed his deep gratitude for the warm hospitality received from the Indian government, particularly noting his close working relationship with Dr Jaishankar.
When looking back at his first day in office, Rubio recalled that the first encounter he had when swearing into office after the inauguration was to meet with the Quad nations in the State Department. During the said meeting, Rubio was able to meet Dr Jaishankar, whom he said was indeed a very wise man who performs exemplary works for his nation.
Speaking to the media, Rubio said that the connection between the two democracies was more than just traditional diplomatic interactions, as they were deeply connected in strategic terms with respect to global problems. This is because there is a true strategic partnership whenever two countries’ interests coincide in solving global problems.
In addition, he pointed out the extensive area covered by the two nations’ cooperation, stating that the wide range of issues managed together by Washington and New Delhi indicate India’s critical importance as a strategic partner for the United States internationally. Furthermore, Rubio referred to the common democratic values of the two countries, stressing that democracies have to be always sensitive to their peoples.
In matters of security and innovation, the Secretary of State mentioned that the two nations enjoy a strong counterterrorism partnership because of their history of being victims of terrorism at the hands of global terrorist groups. He finished his remarks by mentioning the increased cooperation in technology, which he stated is based on their common stance regarding the advantages and disadvantages posed by 21st century technology.
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